Pirates get clear Brandon Lowe contract demand from unlikely source

A deflating loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday — in which the Pirates came back from a six-run deficit in the final two innings of play — cannot be blamed on second baseman Brandon Lowe. Few losses this season can, as Lowe has been as advertised in Pittsburgh's lineup, which ranks as one of the best in all of baseball.

Lowe has an .809 OPS and 22 home runs this season. He's a two-time All-Star and was somehow robbed of that accolade this year. He's also been the most consistent player in the Pirates lineup, and had two hits and a home run on Tuesday night against Arizona. If the Pirates make the playoffs, Lowe's bat will have a lot to do with it. Unfortunately, he's also on an expiring contract.

Ben Cherington can't afford to think about Lowe's deal this second as the MLB trade deadline looms, but soon enough he ought to call the infielder's representation. An extension should be on the horizon in the hope that Lowe avoids free agency altogether. Kevin Griffin, father of Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin, agrees.

The bad news for both Griffins (Konnor and Kevin) is that, while keeping Lowe on a short-term deal may be in the Pirates best interest, there's no guarantee Pittsburgh can afford to do so. Lowe is one of the best offensive second basemen in the sport, and while he range is lacking defensively, there are plenty of contending teams willing to overlook such a deficiency.

What it would cost the Pirates to keep Brandon Lowe

The Pirates best hope to keep a player like Lowe around is that his potential suitors are scared off by that lack of range and his asking price. Gleyber Torres, for example, has similar issues to Lowe. He's a great bat to have in the lineup (with different strengths), but he projects as a downgrade defensively well into his mid-30's.

The Tigers extended a qualifying offer to Torres last winter ($22 million), and he accepted, instead opting to bet on himself. The difference between Torres and Lowe is exactly three years, though. Lowe knows this is likely his last chance to earn a large, multiyear contract. That wasn't the case with Torres.

Cherington and Pittsburgh will worry about re-signing Lowe this offseason. If they're able to do so, it's likely because Nutting upped the ante. A two-to-three year commitment worth at least $15 million per season should be a reasonable starting point. It's also an ideal term length for the Pirates because they have exactly two seasons (barring a lockout) before Paul Skenes is on the final year of his own contract, thus starting his inevitable trade window.

Pirates fans don't want to hear it. Frankly, neither do I. It's Cherington's job to build for the present and the future. He's done an excellent job restocking the Pirates farm system. The MLB product is another question entirely. The Pirates are postseason or bust this season which is why the Lowe trade made sense in the first place. Whether a long-term contract fits the same description is above my paygrade.

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