The Pittsburgh Pirates added a much-needed power hitter as part of a three-team trade with the Tampa Bay Rays and Houston Astros on Friday.
The Pirates acquired second baseman Brandon Lowe from the Rays along with left-handed reliever Mason Montgomery and outfielder Jake Mangum while shipping right-hander Mike Burrows to the Astros. The Rays received right-hander Anderson Brito and outfielder Jacob Melton from the Astros.
Lowe hit 31 home runs this year for the Rays and provided a significant upgrade to a Pirates’ offense that was last in MLB in runs scored and homers in 2025. The left-handed hitter had a .256/.307/.477 slash line in 134 games. The 31-year-old Lowe helps balance a lineup that is heavy on righties.
Lowe, a two-time All-Star, has 157 career homers in eight seasons while hitting .247/.326/.481. Lowe has been primarily a second baseman in his career, but also has experience at first base, left field, and right field. Lowe will earn $11.5 million in 2026, then can become a free agent at the end of the season.
Lowe's 73 home runs from 2023-25 were fourth-most in the American League in that three-season span after Corey Seager (84), Gunnar Henderson (82) and Rafael Devers (76).
Montgomery, 25, made 57 appearances as a rookie this past season, and his ERA was 5.67. However, he had 63 strikeouts in 46 innings, while walking 27 and allowing six home runs.
The switch-hitting Mangum, 29, made his MLB debut with the Rays in 2025. He hit .296/.330/.368 with three homers and 27 stolen bases in 118 games while making 46 starts in left field, 30 starts in center field, and 26 starts in right field. Mangum had three defensive runs saved.
Mangum was one of three MLB outfielders who played at least 900 innings and did not commit an error this year along with the Philadelphia Phillies' Nick Castellanos and the Washington Nationals' Jacob Young.
Burrows made his big-league debut on the final day of the 2024 season, then had a 2-4 record and 3.94 ERA in 23 games (19 starts) this year. The 26-year-old struck out 97 in 96 innings.
Burrows is the second starting pitcher the Pirates have traded this month. On Dec. 4, they shipped right-hander Jovan Oviedo to the Boston Red Sox in a five-player trade that netted outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia.
The Pirates were seventh in ERA in the major leagues this year despite finishing in last place in the National League Central with a 71-91 record.
The Pirates designated two players for assignment, infielder Tsung-Che Cheng and outfielder/infielder Marco Luciano, to clear spots on the 40-man roster.