The Pittsburgh Pirates are trying to win now.
That is the message they sent on Friday when they acquired All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe from the Tampa Bay Rays as part of a three-team trade. The Pirates also received left-handed reliever Mason Montgomery and outfielder Jake Mangum in the deal that sent right-hander Mike Burrows to the Houston Astros.
Make no mistake, though, this trade was about Lowe and adding the left-handed power hitter that the Pirates desperately needed after finishing last in MLB in runs scored and home runs this year. Lowe can become a free agent at the end of next season, which provides the clearest signal yet that the Pirates believe they can contend in 2026.
Lowe provides a reason to get excited about the Pirates, as he hit 31 home runs this past season. No Pirates player had more homers than Oneil Cruz’s 20. Furthermore, the Pirates’ 117 longballs were 31 fewer than any other MLB team.
However, Lowe’s acquisition isn’t enough to push the Pirates into contention. They need to make more moves, especially after acquiring a player like Lowe, a 32-year-old who will likely be a one-and-done in Pittsburgh. If a historically frugal franchise is adding a rental player with an $11.5-million salary, it makes no sense to stop there.
The Pirates have already used two starting pitchers as trade chips this winter, sending Johan Oviedo to the Boston Red Sox for outfield prospect Jhonstynxon Garcia, then dealing Burrows on Friday. Despite their deep reservoir of starting pitching throughout the organization, the Pirates can’t afford to dip into it a third time.
Now, the Pirates must get outside their comfort zone in free agency and sign at least one hitter to a multi-year contract. The Pirates haven’t committed beyond one year to anyone on the open market since giving pitcher Ivan Nova a three-year, $26-million contract during the 2016-17 offseason.
Heck, until Friday, the Pirates hadn’t made a significant trade to immediately improve their chances of winning since the ill-fated Chris Archer trade with the Rays during the 2017 season.
The Pirates have been linked to Eugenio Suarez, Marcell Ozuna, Ryan O’Hearn, and Willi Castro in free agency. All carry some risk but could potentially aid the offense.
Adding Lowe provides a reason to get excited about the Pirates. Adding more hitters would provide a reason to get excited about the Pirates possibly contending in 2026.