One of the biggest additions the Pittsburgh Pirates made during last offseason was acquiring second base slugger Brandon Lowe. Over the previous five seasons, Lowe batted .243/.321/.471 with a .339 wOBA, and 121 wRC+. He slugged 120 home runs over 2295 plate appearances, which was the third most by any primary second baseman from 2021 through 2025. Lowe is now off to a scorching hot start to 2026. It has only been 88 plate appearances, but Lowe has gone yard seven times already. For reference, only seven Pirates all last year hit at least seven long balls. Overall, he has collected 20 hits, including four doubles. Plus he has drawn a dozen walks, and has struck out just 18 times.
The Pirates acquired Lowe knowing that this may be his only season in black and gold. The second baseman becomes a free agent after this season. Lowe’s bat has been one of the biggest reasons the Pirates have gotten off to a hot start, and they should try to keep him beyond 2026. So what would an extension look like for Lowe?
The best comparison to Lowe would be an extension like Dan Uggla’s in 2011. Like Lowe, Uggla is a similar type of player. He was a slugging second baseman who produced plenty with the bat, even if his glove wasn’t outstanding. There are more similarities than just that. When Uggla signed his five-year extension, he had a 118 wRC+, with a .224 isolated slugging percentage and averaged about 3.2 fWAR per 600 plate appearances through the first five years of his MLB career. Lowe also has a 118 wRC+ over his last five seasons, with a .217 ISO, and averages about 3.0 fWAR per 600 plate appearances. Uggla signed his extension prior to his age-31 season, while Lowe is currently in his age-31 season, adding yet another similarity.
Uggla also signed his contract after a career season. In 2010, he slashed .287/.369/.508 with 33 homers in 674 plate appearances. He walked at an 11.6% rate, with a K% of 22.1%. Overall, he had a .382 wOBA, and 135 wRC+. Uggla set career-bests in home runs, all three triple-slash stats, wOBA, and wRC+. Lowe has a very strong chance of performing a similar feat and have a career-best season in 2026.
Uggla’s deal amounted to $62 million guaranteed over five seasons. While five years for Lowe would be a reasonable length, given his age and resume, the amount would likely be different to Uggla’s contract. He signed his extension about 15 years ago. Another comparable contract would be Ketel Marte’s five year, $76 million extension signed prior to the 2022 season with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He provided very similar production at the plate compared to both Uggla and Lowe, with a 122 wRC+, and .200 ISO during his first five years with the Diamondbacks. However, Marte is a switch-hitter, who signed his extension in his age-28 season, and provided about 4.0 fWAR per 600 plate appearances, given he provided more defense than either Uggla or Lowe.
A five-year contract somewhere in the range of $70-80 million would likely be enough to extend Brandon Lowe. Lowe’s power at an up-the-middle position is not easy to replicate. He is on pace for his fifth season with 20+ homers and spending more than half of his games at second base. The last player to achieve that feat was Brian Dozier. If there is one short-term player the Pirates need to lock down, it’s Brandon Lowe.
