Pirates Could Have Strong Competition From AL East For Brandon Lowe

The Pittsburgh Pirates have a lot of work to do this offseason, following a successful 2026 season.

While the Pirates didn't reach the playoffs in 2026, the team did finish the year with a record of 82-80, showing some fight. Pittsburgh was much more competitive this past season, with the team being in the playoff hunt until the last weeks of the year.

As the Pirates prepare for the upcoming offseason, the front office will need to spend some money to address some holes on the roster. But how aggressive the Pirates will be remains the biggest unknown for this team.

Pittsburgh does have some key players entering free agency, with none bigger than star second baseman Brandon Lowe. Lowe had a full breakout season for the Pirates in his first year with the organization, and Pittsburgh has to bring him back.=

However, according to MLB insider Jon Morosi of MLB Network, the Pirates could face some strong competition when it comes to the free agency of Lowe. Morosi has mentioned multiple teams from the American League East as suitors for the Pirates star.

The New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays were all mentioned as teams who could make a play to sign Lowe this offseason. Pittsburgh could have a tough time signing Lowe back if all these teams were to get involved in the bidding.

The Yankees have been linked with Lowe for a while now, giving thought to them chasing him in free agency. But having teams like the Red Sox and Blue Jays involved doesn't help the Pirates at all, especially when it comes to money.

Pittsburgh has typically stayed back in terms of spending in the offseason, but to keep Lowe in town, the front office may have to open the checkbooks. Lowe was a major piece to this team in 2026, and it would be very tough to replace both his production and leadership in the club house.

For the year, Lowe played in 150 games for the Pirates, hitting .260 with 35 home runs, 96 RBIs, and 62 walks drawn, while posting an OPS of .824. Lowe was one of the main catalysts for the Pirates' offense, and the team has to find a way to bring him back.

The veteran has said that he would like to return, but it takes two to tango when it comes to free agency.