Brandon

Lowe

Lowe is “expected to go through a normal practice session” instead, so this doesn’t seem to be a major issue. However, it is something you should monitor over the next couple of days.

Lowe hit second today, as he’s done in all three of his starts this spring. It seems like the wrong call for someone who projects as poorly in terms of OBP as anyone in the Pirates lineup, but then Lowe is a second baseman and who doesn’t love a second baseman batting second? At least Lowe is a quality bat in spite of his OBPs, having come in at .241/.314/.453 over the last four years.

The Astros acquired Mike Burrows from the Pirates in the deal while sending Anderson Brito and Jacob Melton to the Rays. Lowe has been the subject of trade rumors for quite some time, but he finally has a new home after hitting 31 homers with a .256/.307/.477 slash in 2025. He’ll hit in the middle of a Pittsburgh order that is not without talent, and he should be a solid — if unspectacular — fantasy option in 2026.

The framework of the finalized deal is the same that was reported earlier on Friday. Mike Burrows will be heading from the Pirates to the Astros, Brandon Lowe, Jake Mangum and Mason Montgomery will go from the Rays to the Pirates while Jacob Melton and Anderson Brito will go from the Astros to the Rays. The Astros have been inquiring on Burrows for a while now and was an obvious target of theirs to upgrade their starting rotation. The 26-year-old right-hander posted a 3.94 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and a 97/31 K/BB ratio over 96 innings in 23 appearances (19 starts) for the Pirates in 2025.

Alex Stumpf of MLB.com and Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com report that the deal is done, pending medicals. The Astros would be receiving Burrows from the Pirates in the proposed deal while Lowe would head to the Pirates along with Jake Mangum and Mason Montgomery. Melton and Anderson Brito would move from the Astros to the Rays in the massive swap. From the Pirates’ perspective, they will add one of the best power-hitting second basemen in the game. While there’s more work to be done, it’s a nice step forward to legitimize their lineup.

One can’t help but wonder if a Polanco addition would have been followed by a Brandon Lowe subtraction, as the Rays are pretty well set with Junior Caminero at third, Yandy Diaz at DH and Jonathan Aranda at first (at least against right-handers). Lowe will make $11.5 million next season before becoming a free agent. The Pirates are believed to be interested in him, and some other teams might jump in after Brandon Donovan is traded.

Lowe is due $11.5 million next season in the final year of his contract, and there are many reports that the Rays are interested in trading him away. The Pirates made an aggressive offer to Kyle Schwarber, and they do appear intent on at least making some upgrade to their lineup, which is a nice change of pace.

Lowe hit .256/.307/.477 with 31 homers last season, making the option at easy call. The Rays still might choose to trade him in order to save money, but they don’t have any strong alternatives to take over at second base right now.

Simpson wraps up his rookie campaign with 44 thefts in 109 games and at times has looked like a game-changing speedster. Díaz gets a breather after socking a career-high 25 home runs in 150 games while Lowe managed to stay healthy for 134 contests and reach the 30-homer mark for the first time since the 2021 campaign.

With left-hander Cade Povich starting for the Orioles, the Rays will bench their three main left-handed-hitting starters. Everson Pereira will start in center field and bat eighth, Richie Palacios will start at second base and bat fifth, and Christopher Morel will start in left field and bat cleanup.