MLB Trade Breakdown: Pirates Land Brandon Lowe in Three-Team Deal, Rays Reload, Astros Bet on Upside
The MLB hot stove is officially cooking, and Friday delivered a flurry of moves that reshaped rosters and raised eyebrows across the league. Headlining the action was a pair of significant trades involving the Tampa Bay Rays-one a straightforward deal with the Orioles, the other a more complex three-team swap that sent All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Let’s break down the three-team trade and see how each club-Pirates, Rays, and Astros-came out of it, and what it means for their respective 2026 outlooks and beyond.
Pirates: Addressing Multiple Needs in One Swing
Pittsburgh came into the offseason with a clear checklist: add power to a lineup that finished dead last in both runs scored and OPS, and shore up the outfield. After falling short in pursuits of big-ticket free agents like Kyle Schwarber, Alex Bregman, and Cody Bellinger, GM Ben Cherington pivoted to the trade market-and landed a deal that checks both boxes.
Brandon Lowe is the centerpiece here. At 31, he’s no stranger to the injured list, and his glove isn’t what it used to be.
But when he’s healthy, he can mash. Lowe is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, clubbing 31 home runs and earning his second All-Star nod.
He’s under contract through 2026 at $11.5 million for next season-a price tag that’s more than manageable for a Pirates team desperate for offensive production.
But the Pirates didn’t stop there. They also acquired Jake Mangum, a 29-year-old outfielder who finally cracked the majors in 2025 after a long journey through the minors.
Mangum made the most of his opportunity, hitting .296 with 27 stolen bases and a low 15% strikeout rate across 118 games. He’s not a power threat, but he brings speed, contact, and defensive versatility-traits that should slot in nicely alongside Oneil Cruz in center and Bryan Reynolds in right.
Look for Mangum to patrol left field in 2026.
On the pitching side, Mason Montgomery adds another intriguing arm to the mix. Once a top prospect in Tampa Bay’s system, Montgomery transitioned to a bullpen role full-time in 2025 and flashed elite swing-and-miss stuff.
The fastball plays, but the key will be whether he can rein in a career walk rate that hovers around 13%. If he does, Pittsburgh may have found a high-leverage lefty with real upside.
Yes, the Pirates gave up Mike Burrows, a young pitcher with years of team control. But when a trade fills multiple holes and adds depth, it’s tough to argue with the approach. This was a smart, targeted move by a front office looking to turn the corner.
Rays: Re-Tooling with an Eye on the Future
Tampa Bay has never been shy about making bold moves, and this offseason is no exception. After holding onto key pieces at the 2025 trade deadline, the Rays are now reshaping their roster-and their farm system.
Trading away Brandon Lowe and Shane Baz in separate deals signals a shift. Lowe may have been the team’s second-best power bat in 2025, but his defensive struggles-he rated 13 outs below average, worst among all MLB infielders-made him expendable. With top shortstop prospect Carson Williams nearly ready for the big leagues, the Rays appear comfortable rolling with some combination of Richie Palacios and Taylor Walls at second base.
The outfield was already crowded before Tampa Bay added Cedric Mullins, and that made Jake Mangum-despite his contact-heavy, Rays-friendly profile-more of a luxury than a necessity. The same goes for Montgomery, whose inability to consistently throw strikes has limited his role despite his swing-and-miss arsenal.
In return, the Rays landed two of Houston’s top-10 prospects: right-hander Anderson Brito and outfielder Jacob Melton. Brito projects as a mid-rotation starter or possibly a high-leverage reliever, depending on how his command develops.
Melton brings plus power, speed, and solid defense, though his first taste of the majors was rough-he struggled in a 32-game stint. Still, the tools are there, and the upside is real.
In one day, Tampa Bay added significant talent to its farm system. Whether this is a long-term play or part of a larger puzzle remains to be seen, but the Rays now have more assets to work with-something they’ve historically turned into wins, one way or another.
Astros: Betting Big on Burrows
For Houston, this trade is all about upside-and the cost of pitching in today’s market.
The Astros sent out two of their top-10 prospects in Brito and Melton to land Mike Burrows, a 26-year-old right-hander with fewer than 100 MLB innings to his name. On paper, that’s a steep price. But the Astros clearly believe Burrows has untapped potential.
He posted an ERA just under 4.00 across 96 innings in 2025, but it was his second-half performance that caught Houston’s eye. GM Dana Brown called Burrows “an upside play” and noted the team is planning to add a two-seam fastball to his mix-a tweak that could unlock another level in his game.
Burrows is under team control through 2030, and in a pitching market where even mid-rotation arms are commanding premium prices, the Astros felt comfortable using their prospect depth to make a move. With seven of their top-10 prospects being pitchers or outfielders, they had the flexibility to swing for the fences.
Final Takeaways
This was one of those rare trades where all three teams addressed real needs:
- The Pirates got a much-needed power bat, a starting left fielder, and a potential bullpen weapon-all while staying within their financial lane.
- The Rays moved on from aging or redundant pieces and reloaded with high-upside prospects, staying true to their long-term model.
- The Astros paid a premium for a young arm they believe can grow into something special-and they had the depth to do it.
It’s a reminder that in today’s MLB, building a winning roster isn’t just about who you sign-it’s about how creatively you can trade. And on Friday, all three front offices showed they’re not afraid to take a swing.