Ranking Pirates' Brandon Lowe Landing Spots Entering Free Agency

The Pittsburgh Pirates will be entering a massive offseason following a more competitive 2026 season.

Pittsburgh finished the year 82-80, showing a lot of heart and fight down the stretch of the season. While the team didn't make the playoffs, there is a lot of hope for the future of the franchise.

But the Pirates do have some key free agents going to market this year, with none bigger than infielder Brandon Lowe. Lowe was excellent for the Pirates this past season, and there have been calls for the team to retain him no matter what.

This remains to be seen, and Pittsburgh could have some competition for his services. Here are three of the main landing spots for Lowe this offseason:

1. Pittsburgh Pirates

Keeping Lowe has to be the biggest priority for the Pirates this coming offseason, and the team can't afford to lose him. Lowe was one of the biggest catalysts for the Pittsburgh offense this past season, and there is no reason to not pay him.

If the Pirates don't sign Lowe back, fans will expect a better player to replace his services, given how strong he was this year. There is a lot of pressure on the Pittsburgh front office to get this done, hopefully early on, to ease concerns.

2. New York Yankees

The Yankees have been one of the biggest threats rumored to steal Lowe from the Pirates, and the fit does make sense. New York has been lacking stability at second base, and with Jazz Chisholm entering free agency, the team could target Lowe.

Adding the power of Lowe over Chisholm in the lineup would be an upgrade, and the Yankees want to win a World Series next year. This team is likely to make a run at Lowe, and it could push the Pirates out of the price range, depending on the offer made.

3. San Diego Padres

The Padres are one of the more interesting teams in baseball heading into the upcoming offseason. With a new ownership group in place, San Diego could look to spend heavily, and adding someone like Lowe could make sense.

This group could use more middle-infield power, adding to the roster around stars Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., and others. The Padres could make Lowe an offer that makes it tough for other teams to match, and the veteran would go to play for a contender as well.