Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe was a massive boost for the team in his first season with the Bucs. After being acquired in a three-team trade with the Tampa Bay Rays and Houston Astros in the offseason, Lowe had arguably the best statistical season of his career in 2026.
Lowe had a batting average of .260, with 35 home runs and 96 runs batted in. He posted a career-high 5.4 wins above replacement in 150 games with the team. This makes him one of the top free agents on the open market,
and the Pirates are going to have to pay up if they want to keep him.
“He’ll hit the open market as one of the most highly coveted position players available,” Aiden Stepansky of MLB.com wrote. “(Pirates general manager Ben) Cherington described the return of Lowe as a ‘great outcome if he’s a Pirate next year.’ But it will cost a pretty penny, likely a sizable increase from the $11.5 million he earned in 2026, and Lowe, at 32 years old, could find interest in a longer-term deal.”
The Pirates have the money to spend on Lowe, but given their spending habits over the last couple of years, it remains to be seen whether Pittsburgh would invest in him for a long period of time.
BD community, how do you feel about Lowe entering free agency this offseason? How much should the Pirates be willing to pay to keep him in Pittsburgh? Let us know in the comments section below.
