The Astros, Pirates, and Rays are working on a three-team trade that could shake up the offseason landscape, with several intriguing names on the move and each club addressing specific roster needs. Here's how the pieces line up:
- Pittsburgh would land second baseman Brandon Lowe, outfielder Jake Mangum, and left-hander Mason Montgomery from Tampa Bay, while sending right-hander Mike Burrows to Houston.
- Tampa Bay would ship out Lowe, Mangum, and Montgomery, receiving outfielder Jacob Melton and right-hander Anderson Brito from Houston.
- Houston, in turn, would send Melton and Brito to the Rays and receive Burrows from the Pirates.
Let’s break this down, starting with the biggest name in the deal: Brandon Lowe.
Brandon Lowe: Power Bat with a History of Injuries
Lowe is no stranger to AL East fans. The 31-year-old has spent eight seasons with the Rays and, when healthy, has been one of the most dangerous power-hitting second basemen in the league. Since the start of 2019, Lowe has launched 151 home runs-a mark that trails only Marcus Semien (178) and Jose Altuve (158) among primary second basemen.
What makes that number stand out even more? Lowe has done it with significantly fewer plate appearances-about 1,000 fewer than Altuve and nearly 1,600 fewer than Semien.
That’s elite power in a compact window. But that window has been shortened for a reason.
Lowe’s biggest obstacle has been staying on the field. He’s topped 107 games in a season only twice, with a laundry list of injuries holding him back.
Lower back issues have been a recurring theme, but he’s also dealt with everything from a shin bone bruise to oblique strains and ankle tendinitis. It’s been a tough road physically, and it’s shown up in his defensive metrics.
Early in his career, Lowe had some positional versatility-splitting time between second base and corner outfield. But since 2022, he’s been stationed almost exclusively at second.
Unfortunately, his defense has taken a hit. This past season, he graded out at -13 Outs Above Average and -14 Defensive Runs Saved, suggesting his range and reaction time have slipped-likely a byproduct of both age and wear-and-tear.
At the plate, there’s also been some erosion in discipline. Lowe has always struck out at a high clip, but earlier in his career, he balanced that with solid walk rates. Over the past two seasons, though, he’s walked in less than 8% of his plate appearances-below league average.
Still, the power hasn’t gone anywhere. Since the start of 2024, Lowe has slugged 52 home runs with a .251/.309/.475 slash line-good for a 118 wRC+, meaning he’s been 18% better than league average offensively.
That kind of bat plays, even with defensive shortcomings. Over the past two seasons, FanGraphs credits him with 4.0 WAR in 241 games, which is solid value from a player who hasn’t been at full strength.
Why the Pirates Are Making This Move
Pittsburgh’s motivation is clear: they need offense. In 2025, the Pirates were near the bottom of the league in run production.
Outside of Spencer Horwitz, no Pirate posted a wRC+ above 101. That’s not going to cut it, especially in a division where teams are starting to reload.
What the Pirates do have is pitching depth, headlined by Paul Skenes and a wave of young arms. That surplus made a trade like this not only possible but necessary. They’ve been aggressive in trying to add bats this offseason-reportedly making real pushes for Kyle Schwarber and Josh Naylor-but came up short as both players re-signed with their previous teams.
Lowe isn’t a perfect player, but he brings something Pittsburgh desperately needs: a legitimate middle-of-the-order threat. If he can stay reasonably healthy, he gives the Pirates a powerful lefty bat with postseason experience and the ability to change a game with one swing.
What the Rays Are Getting
As always, Tampa Bay is playing the long game. By sending out Lowe, Mangum, and Montgomery, they get two intriguing prospects from Houston: Jacob Melton and Anderson Brito.
Melton is a toolsy outfielder with upside, while Brito is a young right-hander who adds to Tampa’s ever-growing stable of arms. The Rays are clearly betting on internal development and long-term value here, which has been their M.O. for years.
Houston’s Role in the Deal
For the Astros, this is a classic value play. They move two prospects-Melton and Brito-to land Mike Burrows, a righty with upside who could slot into their rotation or bullpen mix. Burrows has shown flashes of promise and fits the Astros’ mold of targeting controllable arms with upside.
Final Thoughts
This is the kind of deal that checks boxes for all three clubs. The Pirates get the bat they’ve been chasing.
The Rays reload with young talent and clear payroll. The Astros add a pitcher who could contribute immediately.
It’s not often you see a three-team deal with this many moving parts come together, but this one makes sense across the board. And for Pittsburgh fans, it signals something they’ve been waiting to see: a front office that’s willing to push chips in and go get talent.