The Pittsburgh Pirates have made the playoffs. Yes, you read that last sentence correctly. The Pirates have made the playoffs for the first time in over two decades.

The last time the Buccos made the playoffs, Johnny Carson was still hosting The Tonight Show, Bill Clinton was elected president for the first time and “Unforgettable” by Irving Gordon was the song of the year.

Many baseball experts and fans saw this coming. The Pirates had an admirable 2012 season, finishing with a record of 79-83. They brought back a large nucleus of their team for another season. The team looked like a perfect mix of wise veterans and rising young stars like center fielder Andrew McCutchen.

From the beginning of the season, it was evident that the past year was not a fluke. Pittsburgh was as hot in the first half of the season as any team in baseball. It looked as if the Pirates would run away with the National League Central crown.

To the dismay of many Pittsburgh fans, this did not happen. Like many teams do in the second half, the Pirates hit a snag, mounting up a few losses. As the Pirates cooled off, the St. Louis Cardinals heated up, bumping Pittsburgh down to second place in the division.

The Pirates just happen to be in one of the most competitive leagues in baseball. But never fear Pirates fans. Despite the competitiveness of the Central, the Buccos clinched at least a wildcard berth with their victory over the Chicago Cubs on Monday. Not only did the Pirates solidify their spot to play October baseball, but they also made sure that they would have a winning record for the first time since 1992.

The Pirates have had a tough time competing with teams around the league over the years. You could make a case for a multitude of reasons for this lack of success. It could be bad moves made by general managers and higher-up. You could say that players have just not performed to their potential. But one of the biggest reasons that most people say that the Pirates haven’t had success is because they haven’t spent the big bucks on premium free agents.

Other teams, like the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers, have broken the bank over the years when it comes to spending money on free agents. However, many teams just do not have the assets to do the same.

But there seems to have been a shift in how teams are managing their roster in recent years. Each season more and more teams are making the playoffs without spending every penny they have on supposedly “top” free agents.

Teams like the Oakland Athletics have made the playoffs the past two seasons without overloading their payroll. Even a team like the Kansas City Royals were in playoff contention this year.

Now this is not to say that the A’s and Pirates have not spent money to improve their rosters. Oakland signed Cuban standout Yoenis Cepedes to a multi-million dollar deal two off-seasons ago. The Pirates made moves prior to this season’s trade deadline to solidify both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball by trading for Justin Morneau and Marlon Bryd. The Royals also made a move, trading some of their top prospects to get staff-ace David Price.

I’m not saying that teams should just throw mid-range players out on the field and have high hopes of making the playoffs. What I am saying is that you don’t necessarily need to have an entire team of all-stars. It seems like the Pirates style of baseball will become the norm around the MLB; develop young talent through your farm system and then sign a few special high-price talents that will get you over the hump.

It has been evident over the past few seasons that spending money does not automatically make you a playoff-caliber team. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Texas Rangers have spent more money in the past two off-seasons on only a small number of players than some teams do on their entire roster.

The Angels, after signing Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols for an almost combined one billion dollars, have been one of the worst teams in baseball this season. The Rangers, who spent a large sum of money adding and resigning players look like they’re on the outside looking in this season.

So, congratulations Pittsburgh. It looks like you’ll be a playoff contender for years to come. But beware; Other teams may begin to use your formula for success.