Brandon Lowe’s looming free agency is about to force the Pirates into a tough payroll conversation, and it could put Mitch Keller or Bryan Reynolds on the chopping block.
Lowe is headed for the open market after a season that made him one of the most attractive bats available. He finished with 35 homers and a 121 wRC+, while also adding Gold Glove finalist credentials to his value. At 32, he’s still in demand, and a player with that kind of résumé is going to draw plenty of attention.
That’s where the problem starts for Pittsburgh. The Pirates are unlikely to get into a serious bidding fight, even for a player they already have in-house. If they want to make room for a new Lowe deal, they may have to move another notable salary first.
Lowe has already shown interest in sticking around for the long term, but his next contract would almost certainly surpass the club’s current top payroll commitments for 2027. Those belong to Keller at $18.4 million and Reynolds at $15.25 million.
This isn’t really about dumping talent for the sake of clearing space. It’s about deciding which pieces matter most. Lowe mattered a lot this season, and if the Pirates decide he’s the priority, then something else has to give.
Keller would probably be the easier name to move. Pittsburgh has strong rotation depth, and the right-hander is coming off a rough year with a 5.29 ERA. Even so, he has built a reputation as one of the game’s more durable starters, and his veteran presence means more than it gets credit for on a young staff.
Reynolds would bring a different kind of return. The two-time All-Star bounced back in 2026 after a down 2025, hitting .261/.365/.424 with a 118 wRC+ and posting +9 Defensive Runs Saved in left field. His age, he turns 32 in January, and his salary could narrow the market, but another club would still have interest in adding that bat.
The best-case scenario is obvious: Pittsburgh keeps everyone and avoids the messy part altogether. But if the Pirates want Lowe back and still hope to add another major hitter, they may need to reshuffle the roster in a meaningful way.
In Other News...
Paul Skenes Is Taking On A Fight Pirates Fans Should Watch
Paul Skenes has been front and center in a labor fight that matters far beyond the mound at PNC Park. The Pirates ace sits on the MLB Players Association executive subcommittee, putting him in the room for the collective bargaining talks that will shape the sports next economic framework, and he has made clear he is against a proposed salary cap because of what it could mean for players now and down the line.
For Pittsburgh, it is a reminder that Skenes is not just the face of the rotation but also one of the most important voices in a debate with real consequences for small-market teams. Even with his own financial future still wide open, he has argued the issue is about protecting players across the league, and the outcome of these negotiations could influence how the Pirates, and everyone else, build their rosters in the years ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Could Make One Telling Move If Brandon Lowe Leaves
Brandon Lowes future is already shaping up as a question for after the 2026 season, and that kind of looming free-agent decision tends to send front offices and outside analysts into roster-spot mode. For the Pirates, the conversation has centered on what they might do if Lowe departs, with the infield picture suddenly needing another answer and a potential opening for a more aggressive move on the market.
One Bleacher Report take has linked Pittsburgh to Jazz Chisholm Jr., who spent 2026 with the New York Yankees and would be one of the more recognizable names available if he reaches free agency. The idea is simple enough for a club looking to stay flexible: replace one high-profile infielder with another on a short-term deal, then see where the fit goes from there. For now, though, it remains a projection rather than a plan, and the real intrigue is whether the Pirates would be willing to make that kind of swing if the opportunity actually materializes. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Still Have 3 Roster Problems Standing In The Way
The Pirates showed progress in 2026, but the gap between them and clubs like the Brewers and Rays, now playing for a World Series title, still feels significant. Their offense got some help from players such as Nick Gonzales, yet the roster issues that dragged them down were harder to ignore, especially a bullpen that never really settled in and a third-base situation that remained shaky over the course of the year.
Catching is another area the Pirates have to sort through heading into 2027, and it comes with no easy answer. Henry Davis, Endy Rodrguez and Rafael Flores Jr. each bring something different to the table, but there is still uncertainty about who can provide the best long-term blend of offense, defense and reliability, leaving Pittsburgh with a decision that could shape the next step of its rebuild. [Read more 🡒]