Pirates must extend Brandon Lowe because possible high-profile replacement would be nightmare

Although Brandon Lowe cooled in the month of June with a .198/.246/.446 line, his blistering hot start has ensured that he's sitting at or above his career averages as we move into the 2026 season's second half. The slugging second baseman has been a major reason why the Pittsburgh Pirates' offense has improved from the most pathetic in the sport in 2025 to one of the most potent units in MLB so far this year.

That alone shows the value that the 32-year-old has brought to the team. But in addition to the slug Lowe is known for, he's also flashed some shockingly good leather, posting seven outs above average and seven defensive runs saved through June 30.

Extending Lowe should not only be a no-brainer, but a top priority (aside from, ahem, fixing the bullpen) for Ben Cherington. Waiting shouldn't be an option, and a quick scan of the free-agents-to-be reveals a barren landscape at second base, with only one viable alternative to Lowe in Jazz Chisholm Jr.

The problem is, Chisholm Jr. should be treated as a radioactive asset that could poison the well for both the Pirates' chemistry and young core.

Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s antics and inconsistencies make him a much worse fit than Brandon Lowe for the Pirates

Being confident, brash, and vocal aren't necessarily bad qualities, but if you're going to talk the talk, you better walk the walk. Jazz Chisholm Jr. is an electric player, putting up a 30-30 season (31 homers and 31 steals) for the New York Yankees in 2025. That electricity comes at a price.

Chisholm Jr. spent his offseason running his mouth all over town. He told Randy Miller of NJ.com that he was expecting his next contract to come in at $35 million per season for eight to ten years. As a four-win player, he's valuable, but it's a big leap to get to that kind of contractual stratosphere.

Of course, if he hit his lofty goal for 2026, then that conversation might have changed. He promised to deliver a 50-50 season in 2026, despite the feat only being done once before by Shohei Ohtani in 2024.

Despite all of his offseason chatter, the 28-year-old came out of the gates with a .202/.281/.330 line during the season's first month. In May, he improved to hit at a .281/.352/.448 clip, but that quickly gave way to a .177/.283/.430 line in June when the Yankees needed him most without Aaron Judge. Overall, he owns a 98 wRC+ through June 30.

Defensively, Chisholm Jr. has a reputation for being solid, though the defensive metrics disagree greatly on his performance. Defensive runs saved thinks he's been horrid with a -8 mark, while outs above average puts him on par with Lowe with 7 OAA. What is clear is that he has mental lapses, like his April 11 bobble of a ground ball that cost the Yankees the game and later had him admit that he didn't know the rules in that particular situation.

Lastly, there are questions about his focus. "Lollipopgate" set Yankees fans ablaze with opinions and drew the ire of his manager, Aaron Boone, who wasn't happy that his supposed star was playing second base while sucking on a Blow Pop. The real crime was that it appears he was eating the worst flavor, watermelon, instead of a more solid choice like cherry.

Chisholm's distractions and misdeeds would be a problem for any club, but especially one like Pittsburgh. The last thing the organization would need would be to pay big money to a guy who pulls these kinds of hijinks alongside young studs like Konnor Griffin and Esmerlyn Valdez.

Lowe isn't as flashy, but he's just as good and a much better fit with what the Pirates need. If Cherington lets Lowe walk out the door, his choices will either be to hand a big check to Chisholm Jr. or face a massive downgrade. The choice is clear. Lowe needed to be extended yesterday.

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