New Brandon Lowe Offseason Prediction Offers Pirates No Excuses

As the Pittsburgh Pirates get ready for the upcoming offseason, the front office has a lot of work to do across the roster.

Pittsburgh finished last season with a record of 82-80, with the team showing all sorts of fight down the stretch. While the Pirates didn't make the playoffs in 2026, the team proved a lot, with multiple players showing strong development.

Entering the offseason, the Pirates do have a lot of questions to answer, mainly around how to build out the roster. Pittsburgh has historically not spent a lot of money on the roster, but this coming winter, that needs to change to give this team a better chance to win.

The big free agent for the Pirates is star Brandon Lowe, who is coming off an excellent season with Pittsburgh. Lowe hit .260 with 35 home runs and 96 RBIs, while posting an OPS of .824 while playing in 150 games for the Pirates.

The veteran was a crucial piece of the puzzle this season for the Pirates, and this team has to find a way to keep him. The Pirates would love to keep Lowe going forward, but his price tag in free agency could complicate things. 

However, in a new prediction from former MLB general manager Jim Bowden, the contract for Lowe is much lower than expected. Bowden has Lowe getting a deal in the three-year, $45 million range this coming offseason.

If this is the case, the Pirates' front office has no excuse not to retain the slugger this offseason. Lowe is easily the biggest offseason piece for this team, and losing him, especially at this price, would be a problem.

The veteran is a good player to have on a team with young guys, with him being a clubhouse leader. But Lowe also proven this season that he could produce with the best of them as well, offering Pittsburgh a true star.

For the Pirates to get to the postseason next year, keeping players like Lowe has to be a priority for this franchise. Pittsburgh is very close to breaking through to end the long postseason drought, and this offseason could determine everything for the team.

The front office owes it to the players and fans to spend this winter, giving the roster a boost for the 2027 season. But whether the front office actually makes the needed changes remains to be seen this offseason.