Brandon Lowe has done just about everything he can to force the issue in Pittsburgh, and that’s exactly why the Pirates may be staring at a problem they haven’t solved yet.
Since the first time he stepped into a Pirates uniform, there has been loud, steady pressure for the team to lock him up long term. The age concern is obvious - he’s 32, and middle infielders at that price point don’t come cheap - but Lowe’s 2026 season has looked like the kind of year that justifies a major commitment. The question is whether the Pirates are ready to pay for it.
At the moment, there’s no clear sign the club has gone that far. Lowe wants to stay, but it’s still unclear whether Pittsburgh is willing to spend the money it would take to keep him around. If that caution hangs around much longer, it could backfire fast.
The reason is simple: the free-agent market for bats, especially infielders, looks thin. That kind of shortage tends to drive prices up, and Lowe has put himself in a position to benefit. He’s gone from a good player to a star-level free agent.
Lowe’s numbers tell the story. He’s hitting .260/.330/.489 with a 119 wRC+ and has topped 30 home runs for the second straight season.
He leads all second basemen in homers and slugging percentage. He’s also brought elite defense to the table this year, posting +14 Defensive Runs Saved and +14 Outs Above Average.
That all adds up to a career-best 4.7 fWAR, and with a strong final week, he could join Brice Turang as the only second basemen in the league to get over 5.0.
What makes Lowe even more valuable is that the rest of the infield market hasn’t exactly been stacked with players putting together huge contract seasons. Jazz Chisholm Jr. is the clearest comparison at second base, and while his year has been solid - 19 homers, 40 steals, 3.4 fWAR - his OPS has fallen by nearly 100 points from his Silver-Slugging-winning season a year ago. Bo Bichette, meanwhile, is sitting at a 95 wRC+, which means he may have taken a hit to his earning power as well.
That leaves a strong case that Lowe, aside from Teruaki Sato of Nippon Professional Baseball, could be the best infielder on the market this winter. Luis Arraez brings a 111 wRC+ and 4.2 fWAR, but he’s a contact-first hitter.
Jake Bauers has posted a 147 wRC+ and 3.7 fWAR, but he’s a first baseman. Lowe’s blend of power and defensive value is the rare package in this class.
And that’s why the market is likely to push him beyond what the Pirates are willing to do. Other teams will see the same thing and bid accordingly.
Pittsburgh probably won’t be the club to top the highest offer. If Lowe is going to stay past 2026, it may take a last-minute extension to make it happen.
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The timing gives the game an unusual layer, too, because it will also serve as Justin Verlanders final MLB start for Detroit. For Pittsburgh, the decision is notable not just because it asks Yates to fill a different role for one night, but because it puts him in a game with a bit of baseball history hanging over both sides. [Read more 🡒]