The Pittsburgh Pirates have made it clear they intend to be aggressive this offseason in their quest to upgrade their roster. While they haven’t made a big splash yet, they continue to be linked to several big-name targets, and after missing out on Kyle Schwarber in free agency, it looks like the Pirates may be turning their attention to the trade market.
While Pittsburgh made a big push for Schwarber, it wasn’t much of a surprise to see him re-sign with the Philadelphia Phillies on a five-year, $150 million contract. The Pirates have quickly moved on, though, with reports indicating that they have emerged as a top suitor for Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe.
“The Pirates are staying aggressive after their pursuit of Kyle Schwarber and are among the teams that have inquired to the Rays about Brandon Lowe,” Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported in a post on X.
With the Winter Meetings currently underway, Lowe has quietly emerged as a top trade candidate across the league. He is fresh off earning the second All-Star selection of his career, as he hit .256 with 31 home runs and 83 RBIs in 2025 with the Rays, and he would immediately come in and provide a spark to the Pirates’ lineup.
The middle infield trade market appears to be heating up, with Ketel Marte of the Arizona Diamondbacks also generating quite a bit of interest. Lowe probably won’t cost as much as Marte, though, and with several other teams focusing on the D-Backs stud, that could open the door for Pittsburgh to swoop in and snatch up Lowe while nobody is looking.
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