The Pittsburgh Pirates are pivoting to a major potential trade after missing out on Kyle Schwarber.
The Pittsburgh Pirates were unable to bag Kyle Schwarber in MLB free agency, but that does not mean they are giving up on their search for a big bat.
Jon Morosi of MLB Network has revealed that the Pirates have pivoted to the trade front, where they are apparently pursuing a deal for Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe.
Lowe has been floated in trade rumors all offseason, as he is entering the final year of his deal after the Rays exercised his $11.5 million club option for 2026.
The 31-year-old made the All-Star team in 2025 after slashing .256/.307/.477 with 31 home runs and 83 RBI over 553 plate appearances.
Lowe was originally selected by Tampa Bay in the third round of the 2015 MLB Draft and made his big-league debut in 2018. He earned an All-Star selection as soon as his second season courtesy of slashing .270/.336/.514 with 17 homers and 51 RBI in 82 games.
Such has been the problem for Lowe throughout his major-league career: staying on the field.
The lefty slugger managed to play in 134 games this past season, but he has appeared in a grand total of 745 contests across eight campaigns, good for an average of 93.1 games per year.
When healthy, Lowe is one heck of a hitter. Back in 2021, for example, when he played in a career-high 149 games, the Suffolk, Va. native slashed .247/.340/.523 with 39 long balls and 99 RBI.
Lowe owns a very impressive lifetime .807 OPS, so when he plays, he hits. And given how desperately the Pirates need offense, you can see why they want him.
Pittsburgh also probably wouldn't have to part with a whole lot in terms of prospect capital to acquire Lowe, and his salary for 2026 is very manageable even for the Buccos.
The Pirates are also said to be interest in free-agent bats Jorge Polanco and Ryan O'Hearn. They have also been mentioned as a possible trade destination for New York Mets utility man Jeff McNeil.
Essentially, Pittsburgh is trying to turn every stone in an attempt to find offense this winter, which follows Paul Skenes basically warning the Pirates that he wants to see improvement next season.
We'll see if the Bucs are actually able to get anything done.