Pirates Could Target Rays Infielder to Boost Offense
The Pittsburgh Pirates may look to improve their offense by trading with the Tampa Bay Rays. The Pirates are one of the teams in need of offensive upgrades this offseason, and a trade could be a viable solution.
ESPN’s David Schoenfield suggests that the Pirates should target Brandon Lowe, a left-handed hitting second baseman for the Rays. Although the Pirates have several options to fill second base, none of them are ideal. Additionally, with Oneil Cruz moving to the outfield, the Pirates also need a shortstop and a first baseman. While Lowe is not a shortstop, he could provide power at either first or second base. Known for his power, Lowe has averaged 33 home runs per 162 games over his career. His $10.5 million salary for 2025 (with an $11.5 million option for 2026) is affordable for Pittsburgh. If Lowe plays second, Nick Yorke could move to the outfield, or if Lowe plays first, Yorke could take over at second.
Lowe’s bat would be a significant upgrade for a Pirates offense that ranked near the bottom in nearly every major hitting category. He has hit 21 home runs in each of the past two seasons and set a career-high with 39 in 2021.
However, Lowe’s health is a concern. The 5-foot-10 second baseman has only played over 110 games in a season once in his career, although he has been healthier in recent seasons, playing over 100 games in both 2023 and 2024. Excluding his rookie year and the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Lowe has averaged just 113 games per year.
Last season, Lowe appeared in 71 games in the field, playing 58 games at second base and 13 at first, without committing an error. Whether at first or second base, Lowe’s bat would be a clear improvement for the Pirates. With the 2025 season being crucial for Pittsburgh’s current management, the team should explore a potential trade for Lowe if he’s available.
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