Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Tuesday that the club remains interested in retaining free-agent second baseman Brandon Lowe, though any multiyear deal remains far from certain.
Cherington described a possible return as a positive development for both sides after Lowe’s strong first season in Pittsburgh. The 32-year-old led the team in several key offensive categories while the Pirates posted their first winning record since 2018.
“It would be a great outcome if [Brandon Lowe] was a Pirate next year,” Cherington stated.
The comments came during the Major League Baseball general managers’ meetings. Cherington indicated that discussions with Lowe and his representatives have stayed measured rather than accelerated.
“We’ve agreed to take it a step at a time. I’m sure there’ll be another conversation at some point soon,” Cherington said.
Lowe arrived in Pittsburgh last winter as part of a three-team trade involving the Tampa Bay Rays and Houston Astros. He responded with a career-high 150 games played, batting .260 with 35 home runs and 96 RBIs. His .493 slugging percentage and .824 OPS also topped the Pirates’ lineup.
Those numbers marked the most home runs by a Pittsburgh player since Josh Bell hit 37 in 2019. Lowe also finished as a finalist for a National League Gold Glove Award at second base after improving his defensive metrics.
The Pirates extended Lowe a one-year, $23.15 million qualifying offer earlier this month. He has until Nov. 17 to accept or decline. Accepting would lock him in for 2027 at that salary; declining would allow him to negotiate with any club while still leaving the door open for a longer deal with Pittsburgh.
If Lowe signs elsewhere, the Pirates would receive a compensatory draft pick. The slot depends on the total value of his next contract. A deal of $50 million or more would place the pick between the first round and Competitive Balance Round A. A smaller total would put it after Competitive Balance Round B.
Industry projections for Lowe’s free-agent market vary widely. Estimates range from three years and $45 million to five years and $150 million, according to analysts. The qualifying offer itself ranks among the higher one-year salaries available this winter.
Pittsburgh has offered a qualifying offer only twice before, both in 2014 to Francisco Liriano and Russell Martin. Neither returned long-term at the time. Cherington noted that the club did not pursue an extension with Lowe during the 2026 season, preferring to focus on the playoff push that ultimately fell short.
The Pirates finished 82-80, ending an eight-year streak of losing seasons but missing the postseason for the 11th consecutive year. Lowe’s power and presence in the middle of the order were central to that offensive improvement.
Losing him would create a clear hole at second base and in the middle of the lineup. Replacing 35 home runs and nearly 100 RBIs would require multiple moves or internal development that has not yet matched that production.
Cherington’s measured language leaves the next steps unclear. The front office has expressed a preference for continuity, yet ownership’s willingness to spend at Lowe’s expected price remains an open question for a franchise that has rarely committed large multiyear deals in recent seasons.
