The Rays will field trade interest in Brandon Lowe this winter, writes Jeff Passan of ESPN. That’s to be expected with the All-Star second baseman one year from free agency. The Rays picked up an $11.5MM option, making him their second highest-paid player — narrowly behind the $12MM they’ll pay first baseman Yandy Díaz.
Trade speculation on Lowe is an annual offseason tradition. His salaries have escalated over the course of the extension he signed in Spring Training 2019. They’ve remained below market value for one of the better offensive middle infielders in the sport. That surely has led to a lot of trade interest over the years, but the Rays have valued Lowe highly enough to not bite on anything they’ve been offered thus far.
Lowe featured prominently on MLBTR’s list of the Top 40 Trade Candidates coming into the offseason. The 31-year-old is coming off another solid year. Lowe hit 31 home runs, the second most of his career and tying him with Jazz Chisholm Jr. for most by a second baseman. He hit .256/.307/.477 across 553 plate appearances. Lowe has had an above-average bat in every season of his career. He has topped 20 homers in three straight years and owns a .245/.315/.466 line in more than 1400 trips to the plate since the start of 2023.
The bat has been Lowe’s calling card throughout his career. That’s even more the case as he gets into his 30s. He’s a below-average runner and graded as the game’s worst defensive second baseman this year by Statcast’s Outs Above Average (-13). He was third from the bottom with a -14 mark by Defensive Runs Saved.
Lowe hasn’t had much defensive versatility throughout his career. He has a little bit of corner outfield experience and has picked up a few more first base innings over the past two seasons. The Rays have Díaz and Jonathan Aranda lined up for the majority of the playing time between first base and designated hitter. They might not feel great about Lowe’s glove at second base, but they’re lacking in upper level middle infield depth. Carson Williams and Taylor Walls could be one of the weakest offensive shortstop duos in MLB. Richie Palacios might be their best second base alternative on the MLB roster, and he’s more of a part-time player who missed most of 2025 to injury.
The Rays certainly don’t need to trade Lowe, but they’re not going to close themselves off to conversations on any player who is this close to free agency. There could be a decent amount of overlap between teams that are in on Lowe and those in conversations with the Cardinals about their lefty-hitting second baseman/outfielder, Brendan Donovan.
The Astros, Guardians, Royals and Dodgers have been linked to Donovan either this winter or at last summer’s deadline. The Angels would probably love to land a left-handed hitting middle infielder. The Cardinals will get more for Donovan — who’s cheaper, better defensively, and controllable for two seasons. Lowe would be an excellent fallback if the Rays finally pull the trigger on a trade.
So many teams I could see this being a good fit for, the Rays will do well in a trade.
Idk, dude can’t field and a below avg obp.
Lau not low, right?
The other dude Josh is low, not Lau?
Yes to both queries, Theo! And now I’m hungry for lau lau.
Thank goodness guy single handily beats the jays wonder who they’ll get to replace him as said killer
No one. They have no ML-ready players to take over the position. They might try to scrap some players together like Palacios or Walls to take over 2B or maybe they’ll trade for a no-name depth player in the same Lowe trade, but having traded Gray and Caballero they really don’t have any options unless they try to transition one of their billion OFs or Cs they’ve picked up they have no replacements
I bet it’s harder to find a trade partner than people think. He’s borderline unplayable at 2B now. Would take a team which doesn’t care about 2B defense, or is willing to move him to 1B (where his bat isn’t as attractive). He’s got some value, but not a ton. A little like Arraez, whom the Padres tried to trade for a full year or more.
So, an offense deprived team like Cleveland or Kansas City couldnt use 25hrs and .250 for $11m?
Now this is a player the Angels should look into.
The Astros will look at either Brendan Donavan or Brandon Lowe. I’d rather Donavan
Cardinals trade Donovan for Lowe if the Rays throw in two high-tier pitching prospects.
The Rays have been trying to listen to offers for Lowe for years now, problem is there haven’t been any. And it continues to be so and will continue to be.
Pirates would be such a good fit but he only has one year left. Would be worth seeing what it takes. Rays need catchers and could maybe use a young SP to work with?
Pirates receive: 2B Colt Keith, 3B Jace Jung, #19 prospect LHP Jake Miller
Tigers receive: SP Mitch Keller, RP Dennis Santana
Who says no?
The Tigers, if anyone. Pittsburgh is still mashing the “X button to Accept” as we speak.
Put Parker Meadows and someone else in and leave Keith out. Keith will be Manning 3B in Detroit this year.
Matt Manning at 3rd? What an athlete! 🤪
Stupid spell check 😉
I don’t want to lose Santana but it’s a fair enough trade. Keith is interesting but not sure how much he really improves the team. I have seen much worse.
Bullpen took a while to catch their stride without Bednar. Can’t imagine no Santana.
In the Giants big ballpark, not sure he’s a good fit, would prefer Donovan.
Really hope my Braves make a play on him
And play him where?