Brandon Lowe's rising free-agent stock exposes the biggest risk in Pirates' GM Meetings strategy

The Pittsburgh Pirates have made it clear that they would like Brandon Lowe back in 2027. Unfortunately for general manager Ben Cherington, the rest of Major League Baseball is beginning to recognize just how valuable the veteran second baseman could be.

In his ranking of the 2026-27 free-agent class, MLB.com's Mark Feinsand placed Lowe in Tier 2, alongside some of the most attractive players available this offseason.

Feinsand specifically highlighted Lowe's unique offensive profile, noting that no other second baseman on the market offers comparable power upside. After hitting 35 home runs with 96 RBI for Pittsburgh in 2026, Lowe has now reached the 30-homer mark three times in his career, including each of the past two seasons.

It's further validation of what the Pirates already know: Lowe is going to be incredibly difficult to replace. But with MLB's General Managers Meetings taking place this week and a potential work stoppage looming in December, Pittsburgh's biggest problem might not be finding the money to retain Lowe. It could be spending too much time waiting to find out whether he's coming back.

Pirates cannot afford to let Brandon Lowe uncertainty derail their offseason

The Pirates extended Lowe a one-year, $23.15 million qualifying offer on November 2, giving him until November 17 to accept or decline. It was the obvious move, particularly because Pittsburgh will receive draft-pick compensation if Lowe signs elsewhere. But accepting the offer would mean passing up the opportunity to pursue a lucrative multiyear contract, making that outcome unlikely.

Feinsand's evaluation only reinforces why Lowe should be confident about testing the market. The problem for Cherington is that the November 17 deadline doesn't prevent other teams from pursuing free agents right now. Lowe can negotiate with interested clubs, and the Pirates can explore alternatives before he formally makes his qualifying-offer decision.

In other words, Pittsburgh doesn't have the luxury of waiting another eight days before determining its next move. The urgency becomes even greater when considering the league's looming labor uncertainty. MLB's current collective bargaining agreement expires December 1, and a lockout could begin December 2, effectively freezing major league transactions until a new agreement is reached.

That leaves Cherington with a potentially abbreviated window to address an offseason that already features several pressing needs — and second base is only one of them. The Pirates must also consider upgrades at third base, catcher and in the bullpen, along with adding another right-handed bat to a lineup that struggled mightily against left-handed pitching in 2026.

Those needs aren't going away simply because Lowe's future remains uncertain. And if Pittsburgh spends the next several weeks prioritizing a reunion that ultimately doesn't materialize, it risks watching other potential solutions disappear from the market.

The Pirates don't necessarily need to abandon their pursuit of Lowe. In fact, they should make every reasonable effort to keep him after the impact he made during their first winning season since 2018. But they need a legitimate contingency plan, too.

Could someone like Gleyber Torres provide an alternative at second base? Would acquiring an infielder through a trade offer greater flexibility? Could Pittsburgh redistribute the money it might otherwise spend on Lowe to address multiple weaknesses? Those conversations need to happen now, not after Lowe signs elsewhere.

Cherington has repeatedly emphasized the importance of remaining flexible throughout the offseason. But flexibility means having multiple paths toward improving the roster, not keeping every possibility open indefinitely.

The Pirates' acquisition of Lowe last December was one of Cherington's most successful moves as general manager. His performance helped transform Pittsburgh's lineup and demonstrated what a legitimate middle-of-the-order power threat could accomplish. Losing him after just one season would be disappointing, but allowing that possibility to prevent the Pirates from making other meaningful improvements would be significantly worse.

The GM Meetings should be an opportunity for Cherington to establish his offseason priorities, identify realistic alternatives and begin laying the groundwork for potential deals. With a possible lockout approaching, the Pirates cannot assume they'll have the entire winter to sort things out.

Feinsand's ranking is another reminder that Lowe has earned the attention he's receiving. Now Cherington has to prove that Pittsburgh's offseason strategy doesn't depend entirely on where he signs. The biggest mistake the Pirates could make is being so afraid of losing Lowe that they fail to improve the rest of the roster.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow