Pirates Have No-Brainer Priority For Upcoming Offseason

As the Pittsburgh Pirates get ready for the upcoming offseason, the front office has some work to do.

After the team finished 82-80 on the year, the Pirates feel as if the 2027 season could be the time for them to get back into the playoffs. Pittsburgh hasn't made the playoffs since the 2015 season, with the franchise undergoing over a decade-plus drought.

But this team has a few big decisions to make this offseason, starting with how the front office wants to act. Historically, Pittsburgh has sat out of making large free-agent signings or big trades, but this winter, the team should change how it's operated.

One of the more important decisions from the offseason has to do with free agent Brandon Lowe, whom the Pirates have to bring back. Lowe put together a strong season for Pittsburgh this year, but there has been talk that the Pirates may not want to open the checkbook for him.

The 32-year-old slashed .260/.331/.493 with 35 home runs, 96 RBIs, and an OPS of .824 over 150 games for the Pirates. Lowe was a key piece to this team's offense this year, and if the Pirates let him walk, it will be a mistake.

Pittsburgh needs players like Lowe, who can help the younger stars on the roster navigate the big leagues. The veteran's presence in the clubhouse and lineup helped the Pirates be much more competitive this season, and this isn't something that they can easily replace.

Lowe has been projected to get a contract around the four-year, $92 million mark, and Pittsburgh has to do whatever it takes to retain him. The veteran could get a deal larger than this, but the Pirates still need to keep him in town.

One big obstacle for the Pirates is the impending lockout coming to baseball, but no matter how it turns out, Pittsburgh has to keep Lowe. If they could resign him before the lockout were to begin, it could help this team plan for the rest of the offseason.

The Pirates' front office owes it to the organization to keep the star in town, adding onto the success that this group had this year. If making the playoffs and winning is truly at the core of the organization, Lowe will be back with the Pirates for the foreseeable future.

But whether the front office wants to spend remains another roadblock that has hurt the Pirates in recent years.