Pirates Get Unfortunate Update on Brandon Lowe Free Agency

The Pittsburgh Pirates fell short of breaking the long playoff drought this past season, but there is real reason for optimism around the clubhouse moving forward.

Pittsburgh finished the year with a record of 82-80, showing signs of life from a team that had been toward the bottom in recent seasons. The Pirates have a nice collection of young talent on the roster, giving this team hope for the future.

But the upcoming offseason will be one of the more crucial in recent memory for this group, with the front office having to make some big decisions. One of the bigger ones will come from the impending free agency of star Brandon Lowe.

Lowe had an excellent season for the Pirates this year, becoming a leader in the clubhouse for the team. Overall, he hit .260 with 35 home runs and 96 RBIs, while posting an OPS of .824.

His free agency has been one of the bigger topics around the Pirates this offseason so far, with there being questions about whether Pittsburgh will keep him. The Pirates understand how important Lowe is to the team, but money could become an issue for the organization.

While the Pirates would love to keep Lowe around for the foreseeable future, it's starting to look like that may not happen. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette‘s Colin Beazley, Lowe will likely be playing somewhere else for the 2027 season.

“Lowe is open to a return and the Pirates would love to retain him. If they are willing to boost payroll or create flexibility somehow, then that may be possible,” Beazley wrote. “However, Lowe will likely play elsewhere next year.”

Of course, Lowe could still return to the Pirates this offseason, but this report does seem to indicate that price could be a problem for the two sides. After a breakout season, Lowe is likely looking to cash in this winter, and the Pirates may not be willing to give him the deal that he wants.

If Lowe does walk, the front office could take a lot of heat from the fanbase, especially if he produces wherever he goes. Lowe's production won't be easy to replace, and the Pirates could be in some trouble if he signs elsewhere.

Pittsburgh wants to get back to the playoffs, and one way to help the case is to retain the players who are helping to grow with the younger guys. Lowe is a great example of a veteran leader for this clubhouse, and he fit in very well with the Pirates this past season.

Only time will tell if Lowe will return, but the Pirates should be doing whatever they can ro bring him back this offseason.