Pirates could spend $67 million in free agency just to keep the same team together

The Pittsburgh Pirates could commit $67 million in free agency this offseason without adding a single new player to their roster.

That's the uncomfortable reality facing general manager Ben Cherington as Pittsburgh attempts to build on its first winning season since 2018.

In his recent ranking of MLB's top 40 free agents, Jim Bowden of The Athletic projected a three-year, $45 million contract for second baseman Brandon Lowe and a two-year, $22 million deal for reliever Gregory Soto.

Both players spent the 2026 season in Pittsburgh. Combined, Bowden's projections would require the Pirates to guarantee $67 million simply to retain two players from a team that finished 82-80 and missed the postseason.

Lowe earned $11.5 million in 2026, while Soto made $7.75 million. Together, they accounted for $19.25 million in salary. Under Bowden's projections, Lowe would earn $15 million annually and Soto would make $11 million, pushing their combined annual salaries to $26 million. That's an additional $6.75 million per season — roughly a 35% increase — just to bring back two familiar faces.

There's a reasonable argument that retaining Lowe should be among Pittsburgh's highest priorities. The veteran second baseman led the Pirates with 35 home runs and 96 RBI in 2026, providing the middle-of-the-order production the organization had desperately lacked for years. Losing him would create another significant hole in a lineup that still needs improvement.

Soto's situation is considerably more complicated. The left-hander finished with a respectable 3.63 ERA, 79 strikeouts and 16 saves over 67 innings, but he also blew six saves. With Mason Montgomery emerging as a legitimate late-inning weapon, committing $11 million annually to Soto might not represent the smartest allocation of Pittsburgh's limited resources.

Still, whether the Pirates re-sign Soto or pursue a replacement, the larger problem remains: Pittsburgh needs to spend money just to maintain its current talent level before it can realistically begin improving.

Pirates can't improve without increasing their financial commitment

The Pirates still need another reliable starting pitcher, a right-handed bat capable of handling left-handed pitching, bullpen depth and potentially upgrades elsewhere in the infield. None of those needs would be addressed by bringing back Lowe and Soto.

Meanwhile, the team's existing payroll obligations are increasing. Paul Skenes is entering his first year of arbitration, with MLB Trade Rumors projecting a $7.2 million salary for 2027. He's one of 10 arbitration-eligible Pirates players in line for potential raises. That leaves Cherington facing an increasingly difficult financial puzzle.

The Pirates improved by 11 wins in 2026, but they still finished six games outside the final National League Wild Card spot. Maintaining the status quo isn't going to be enough. They don't necessarily need to spend $67 million specifically on Lowe and Soto. They could prioritize Lowe, pursue a more affordable bullpen alternative or explore trades to address other weaknesses.

But there's no escaping the underlying financial reality. Replacing productive players costs money. Retaining them costs money. And improving beyond what they contributed costs even more.

If Bob Nutting isn't willing to increase payroll substantially, Cherington could find himself spending another offseason making difficult sacrifices simply to remain competitive. The Pirates can't expect to improve upon their 82-win season without paying more to keep the pieces that got them there.

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