The Pittsburgh Pirates already have one clear priority this offseason: keep Brandon Lowe in the fold.
That task won’t be simple. Lowe is a free agent, and with the General Managers’ Meetings underway at the ARIA Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, the market is starting to form around him. Jon Morosi of MLB Network said that, "A lot of interest early is coming from the American League East," and Sportsnet Canada’s Shi Davidi and Ben Nicholson-Smith reported that the Toronto Blue Jays are among the teams with interest.
For the Pirates, the appeal is obvious. Lowe was their best hitter in 2026, and he gave them far more than just pop at the plate. He looked like the kind of player who can change a lineup and stabilize a position at the same time.
His defense at second base was the biggest surprise. Lowe went from being a liability there, with -14 defensive runs saved (DRS), -14 outs above average (OAA) and -10 fielding run value (FRV), to posting +13 DRS, +15 OAA and +12 FRV. That turnaround was enough to make him a National League Gold Glove Award finalist, and it’s a big reason teams in the AL East are circling.
"One of the things that the American League East and other teams noticed this year was that his defense in Pittsburgh improved significantly," Morosi said.
The bat still carries plenty of weight, too. Lowe hit 35 home runs, which was the second-most of his career and the most by a Pirates player since Josh Bell hit 37 in 2019.
That kind of production is going to draw a crowd. The Yankees need help at second base, especially with Jazz Chisholm Jr. unlikely to return.
The Blue Jays are looking for power after a poor 2026 showing. The Red Sox would take a player like Lowe in a heartbeat, and the Orioles could move on from Jackson Holliday.
Even a return to the Rays, where Lowe played from 2018 to 2025 before being traded to Pittsburgh last offseason, can’t be ruled out.
The Pirates, though, want him back. General manager Ben Cherington said as much on Nov. 10 during the GM Meetings, while also acknowledging that Lowe has put himself in position for a major payday.
That’s where the challenge comes in. Small-market teams like Pittsburgh can’t simply outmuscle clubs like the Blue Jays, Red Sox and Yankees financially, so winning a bidding war may not be realistic.
The Pirates did extend Lowe the qualifying offer, worth $23.15 million for 2027, but he is likely to chase the best long-term deal he can find.
There are reasons Pittsburgh still makes sense. Lowe said after the season that he would be open to staying, and he already has a strong standing in the clubhouse. He has also built a presence in the Pittsburgh community through charity work and other off-field efforts, and he knows the team that wants him back.
If he leaves, he would need to build that same comfort somewhere else, and there’s no guarantee another team would give him the same role or impact he’d have in Pittsburgh. The Pirates may also be willing to go longer in years than some other clubs, even if the average annual value is lower, perhaps four or five years instead of the three years he is likely to get from most teams.
Lowe is 32 and has a long injury history, which could scare off some suitors from a lengthy commitment. But for the Pirates, the risk may be worth it. The 2027 season looms too large for them to let a player like Lowe walk without a fight.
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