The Pirates have an obvious offseason problem, and it starts with Brandon Lowe. If he walks in free agency, Pittsburgh is left trying to replace one of the most productive bats in its lineup.
MLB Trade Rumors thinks the answer could be J.P. Crawford, but that kind of fix looks more like a budget compromise than a real solution.
In MLB Trade Rumors’ annual Top 50 free-agent predictions, two of the outlet’s three writers, Steve Adams and Anthony Franco, projected Crawford to land with Pittsburgh. The forecast pegs him at two years and $16 million. That’s a far cry from Lowe’s expected market, with MLBTR projecting him for three years and $69 million.
Crawford would bring some useful traits to the Pirates. He takes walks, handles the strike zone well and doesn’t pile up strikeouts the way so many Pittsburgh hitters have.
In 116 games with the Seattle Mariners in 2026, he hit .221/.335/.352 with 14 home runs and 40 RBI. His 13.1% walk rate and 19.8% strikeout rate fit the profile of a disciplined hitter, and that alone would give the Pirates something they’ve lacked.
He also offers defensive flexibility. Crawford has mostly played shortstop, but he moved to third base in 2026, which could make him an option at third or second for Pittsburgh. With the Pirates still sorting out their infield defense, that kind of versatility has real value.
Still, there’s no way around the gap in offensive impact. Lowe hit .260/.331/.493 with 35 home runs and 96 RBI in 2026, giving Pittsburgh the middle-of-the-order force it has been searching for. His production helped lift an offense that finished last in baseball in 2025 into one that could compete more consistently.
Crawford has never hit more than 19 home runs in a season. He can get on base, but that skill set doesn’t come close to matching the power Lowe brought to the table, especially after Lowe led all major league second basemen in home runs last season.
The fit gets even murkier when you look at Pittsburgh’s issues against left-handed pitching. In 2026, the Pirates went 18-33 against left-handed starters and hit .229 with a .300 on-base percentage and .359 slugging percentage in those games.
All three numbers ranked last in baseball. Crawford bats left-handed, so he wouldn’t directly solve that problem.
That’s why the price tag matters so much. Crawford’s projected $8 million annual salary would sit comfortably in Pittsburgh’s usual range, while Lowe is expected to land around $23 million per year. The Pirates finally finished above .500 in 2026 at 82-80, and letting their best power threat leave only to swap him for a cheaper, far less dangerous bat would risk undoing some of that progress.
None of this means Crawford would be a bad pickup on his own. At the projected cost, he could be a solid complementary addition. And if Pittsburgh paired him with another right-handed power bat, the move would make a lot more sense.
The question is whether Ben Cherington would actually make that second move. Crawford can help, but he can’t be mistaken for a true Brandon Lowe replacement just because he’s cheaper and fills an infield spot.
In Other News...
Ben Cherington Just Raised The Pressure On The Pirates Offseason
At the MLB general managers meetings, Ben Cherington put a sharper edge on Pittsburghs offseason message, saying the Pirates are not boxed in financially even after a rise in payroll commitments and arbitration raises. He did acknowledge the club is operating in a different financial setting than it did a year ago, but he was clear that the priority remains the same: improve the roster.
Cherington also said the Pirates are still in discussions with Brandon Lowe about the qualifying offer, keeping another layer of uncertainty attached to the winter plans. For a team trying to turn a more ambitious offseason into actual progress, the comments suggest the front office sees room to act, even if the next move is still being sorted out. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Need To Fix A Pitching Problem Fast
The Pirates are heading into the offseason with a clear need to rebalance their pitching staff, and the focus has quickly turned to left-handed help. According to a report from The Athletic, the club is looking at both free agency and the trade market as it tries to add more balance before the winter really gets moving.
The timing matters because the front office wants to make some progress before the MLB lockout deadline complicates the calendar, and the list of possible fits is already taking shape. Among the names being discussed are Foster Griffin, Trevor Rogers, Robbie Ray, Alex Vesia and JoJo Romero, giving Pittsburgh a range of options as it tries to solve a problem that has become hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Offseason Plans Just Got Tied To Mitch Kellers Status
Mitch Kellers season ended early, but the Pirates are now getting a much better read on what comes next for one of their most important arms. General manager Ben Cherington said Keller is basically recovered and has resumed throwing, which gives Pittsburgh a more stable starting point as it shapes an offseason that already figures to be influenced by the makeup of its rotation and the demands of its home park.
The bigger roster question is how the Pirates balance a staff that leans heavily right-handed. Adding left-handed pitching is on the table, and Kellers progress helps clarify how aggressive the club can be in addressing that need. For a team trying to build a more versatile staff, his status matters not just for next season, but for the way the entire pitching plan is being framed. [Read more 🡒]