The Pirates have a clear offseason question sitting right in front of them, and it centers on Brandon Lowe.
After Pittsburgh’s 2026 season brought its share of frustration - Paul Skenes regressed a bit, the club missed the playoffs, and the trade deadline additions didn’t really hit - one move from the prior offseason stood out as a major win. The trade for Lowe gave the Pirates a real boost, and he was a big part of their offensive turnaround.
Now comes the hard part: Lowe is headed for free agency, and his return is far from guaranteed.
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter thinks the answer should be simple for Pittsburgh, projecting the Pirates to bring Lowe back on a multi-year deal that would likely push past $20 million per season.
"It's likely going to cost $20 million annually and at least three years to re-sign Lowe, but he was instrumental in the club's offensive turnaround, posting a 121 OPS+ with 35 home runs, 96 RBI and 5.4 WAR," Reuter writes. "There is reportedly mutual interest in a reunion, but it will take uncharted spending. Verdict: Re-sign."
That kind of contract would be a major commitment for a Pirates team that doesn’t usually operate in that territory, but Lowe’s production makes the case hard to ignore. He finished with a 5.4 bWAR season, hit 35 home runs, drove in 96 runs and posted an .824 OPS.
He’s also just 32, which only strengthens the argument that Pittsburgh should be willing to stretch for him. If there’s a moment to go beyond the usual comfort zone, this looks like it.
Reuter’s prediction is straightforward: the Pirates will pay up and keep Lowe at second base for the next few seasons. For Pittsburgh, that would make re-signing him one of the top priorities of the offseason, even if the price tag is steep.
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