Table of Content
The Pittsburgh Pirates are coming off their best season in a decade after winning 82 games in 2026, largely thanks to strong roster moves made last offseason. To maintain and build upon this momentum heading into 2027, the organization must stay active and execute another productive winter.
Resign Brandon Lowe
The Pirates’ top priority must be bringing back 32-year-old Brandon Lowe, who showed no signs of slowing down during a stellar campaign. Lowe smashed a franchise-record 35 home runs in a single season for Pittsburgh, posted a .260 batting average, and appeared in a career-high 150 games.
As the team’s clear primary power threat, Lowe became indispensable to the lineup. While potential market size or a desire for maximum exposure could play a role in his decisions, Lowe and the Pirates remain an ideal fit for the upcoming season.
Acquire Another Quality Right-Handed Hitter
Although the 2026 lineup improved significantly, the team still lacked a consistent middle-of-the-order power bat behind Lowe and Oneil Cruz. While players like Ryan O’Hearn, Bryan Reynolds, Esmerlyn Valdez, and Konnor Griffin offer various levels of production, adding another strong hitter is essential, especially if Lowe departs.
Houston Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes emerges as a strong potential target after hitting 25 home runs with a .262 batting average and an .807 OPS in 2026. Paredes also fills a defensive need at third base, where Jared Triolo and Nick Gonzales split time last season. Adding a right-handed threat would also help address Pittsburgh’s struggles against left-handed starters, against whom the team batted just .228 with 3.82 runs per game and an 18-33 record.
Add a Left-Handed Starter
Pittsburgh’s pitching rotation features high-end potential if Paul Skenes enters 2027 healthy and rested, alongside emerging arms Braxton Ashcraft, Bubba Chandler, and Jared Jones. However, with Mitch Keller enduring the worst season of his career before an injury-ended campaign, the team may look to part ways with the veteran.
Opening up a rotation spot makes exploring the left-handed starter market a logical step. MLB.com’s Aiden Stepansky suggests the Pirates could pursue 31-year-lesft-hander Foster Griffin, who earned his first All-Star nod with the Cleveland Guardians after notating a 3.60 ERA and 15 wins across 31 appearances. Because the free-agent market is thin, the Pirates will need to move quickly to strengthen their starting staff.
Pittsburgh will need to navigate the player market swiftly to secure these roster upgrades before spring training gets underway.
