Pirates urged to re-sign 35-homer infielder if they want to be ‘taken seriously’ originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
While the Pittsburgh Pirates‘ 2026 season didn’t exactly go to plan, with the team missing the postseason, there is a lot more hope for this club moving forward than in previous years.
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If Paul Skenes can return to form, then the Pirates could have a serious postseason contender on their hands next year. But it’s not just about Skenes returning to form; it’s about bringing back a key player on a long-term deal.
As USA Today’s Bob Nightengale is urging, re-signing 35-homer star Brandon Lowe is something the Pirates should do this offseason if they want to be taken seriously as a postseason contender moving forward.
“If the Pittsburgh Pirates want to be taken seriously, they do everything possible to bring back Brandon Lowe, who’s a free agent this winter,” Nightengale writes.
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Re-signing Lowe, who the Pirates acquired last offseason in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays, would be a no-brainer for most Major League ball clubs.
But with the Pirates’ conservative spending plan in recent years, there’s a chance Lowe leaves Pittsburgh for a new team next offseason.
However, if the Pirates want any chance of being a contender, re-signing Lowe should be a priority. He’s a great infielder who is one of the best power-hitting second basemen in baseball.
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This year, he has posted 5.5 bWAR with 152 hits, 35 home runs, 94 runs scored, 29 doubles, 96 RBIs, and 62 walks with an .824 OPS.
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Bringing Lowe back to a long-term deal would make a lot of sense, as the 32-year-old infielder is one of the best sluggers in baseball.
There might be some risk as he’s a bit older, but Lowe’s upside is the exact kind of thing this Pirates team needs to be a serious postseason contender going forward.
Losing him would leave a huge chasm in their infield and create serious questions about the offense moving forward.
Nightengale believes re-signing Lowe is a prerequisite to being taken seriously moving forward, and considering Lowe’s impact, Nightengale’s point is a good one. Lowe should be re-signed this offseason, and the Pirates shouldn’t have any qualms about it.
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