Breaking MLB Trade: Pirates Finally Acquire All-Star Slugger in 3-Team Trade

You've gotta give the Pittsburgh Pirates credit. For the first time in a long time, they are clearly trying this offseason to add to their team in a meaningful way. They made a four-year offer to free agent Kyle Schwarber, as well as targeting Josh Naylor and Pete Alonso.

Now, the Bucs have finally got their man. Granted, not in the same weight class as the aforementioned trio, but second baseman Brandon Lowe has two 30+ home run seasons, and two more at 20+, all within the last five years. They've landed the slugging second sacker in a three-team trade.

Pirates are trading for Brandon Lowe as apart of a three-team trade with the Astros and Rays pic.twitter.com/cIqbAuLRi9
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) December 19, 2025

Pittsburgh also gets outfielder Jake Mangum and lefty reliever Mason Montgomery in the deal, while the Astros receive right-hander Mike Burrows. The Rays get back a couple of high-end prospects from Houston, in OF Jacob Melton, who was the Astros' No. 2 prospect, and RHP Anderson Brito, their No. 7 prospect.

But the star attraction is Lowe. The Pirates get the left-handed power bat that they desperately needed. PNC Park is built for lefty hitters. The team had a goal of adding two everyday regulars this offseason, and this is one huge checkmark on their list.

He's only under team control for 2026 before he hits free agency, as the Rays had picked up his option at $11.5 million.

Lowe had spent his entire eight-year career with Tampa, getting an All-Star nod two times, including in a 39-homer, 99 RBI year in 2021. This past season, he launched 31 long balls to go with 83 RBIs.

The knock on Lowe has been his injury history. He's missed over 230 games in the past four seasons, and his 134 games played this year were his most over that time. But he's still just 31, and he'll be doing everything he can to stay on the field this year with a chance to cash in in free agency next winter.

For Houston, they get a solid young starting pitcher in Burrows. Just 26, he had a very nice rookie year with the Pirates in '25, making 19 starts, and posting a 3.94 ERA with a 97:31 K/BB ratio in 96 innings.