Pirates have 'no-brainer' offseason decision to make with Brandon Lowe originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Pittsburgh Pirates made significant offensive strides in 2026 and finished with an 82-80 record.
Second baseman Brandon Lowe, traded from the Tampa Bay Rays to the Pirates last offseason in a three-team deal with the Houston Astros, was a major reason why.
Lowe hit 35 home runs and drove in 96 runs while playing stellar defense at second base.
FanSided's Zachary Rotman believes Pittsburgh's "biggest offseason priority" should be to re-sign Lowe.
"Bringing him back is a no-brainer if the Pirates are serious. Yes, it'd be costly, and yes, it might not age well (Lowe is 32 years old), but the Pirates need to win now. It's been over a decade since Pittsburgh last made it to the playoffs, and the Pirates haven't won a playoff series (excluding their one-game Wild Card win in 2013) since 1979.
"They finally have a core capable of making it to the postseason, but it's hard to envision that result if they let their best hitter walk. It's time for Bob Nutting to pay up," Rotman wrote.
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Lowe had 5.4 bWAR and hit 31 or more homers for the third time in his nine-year career.
The Pirates don't sign many players to multi-year deals, but they should strongly consider bringing back Lowe.
A resurgent season from Paul Skenes and another great year from Lowe could help propel the Pirates into the postseason, but they have to be willing to pay the left-handed slugger.
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