{"id":111011,"date":"2025-12-19T20:33:09","date_gmt":"2025-12-20T01:33:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=111011"},"modified":"2025-12-19T20:36:34","modified_gmt":"2025-12-20T01:36:34","slug":"what-next-for-pirates-with-lowe-mangum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/12\/19\/what-next-for-pirates-with-lowe-mangum\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s Next After Pirates Add Lowe, Mangum to Lineup"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Pittsburgh Pirates will have a new look after adding Brandon Lowe<\/a> and Jake Mangum<\/a> in Friday\u2019s three-team trade<\/a>. In acquiring Lowe and Mangum from the Tampa Bay Rays, the Pirates sent right-handed starter Mike Burrows<\/a> to the Houston Astros and also received left-handed reliever Mason Montgomery<\/a> from the Rays. But it\u2019s not the pitchers who will be the focus of this deal from Pittsburgh\u2019s standpoint. Let\u2019s look at how this drastically changes the lineup card that Pirates manager Don Kelly<\/a> will be writing every day.<\/p>\n

\"The
Sep 16, 2025; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe (8) hits a RBI single in the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pirates Lineup Looks Different After Adding Lowe and Mangum<\/h2>\n

This might be looked at as the Pirates\u2019 revenge for the disastrous 2018 deadline deal that sent Shane Baz<\/a>, Tyler Glasnow<\/a>, and Austin Meadows<\/a> to the Rays for disappointing pitcher Chris Archer<\/a>. But general manager Ben Cherington\u2019s marching orders were to add offense, not to exact revenge. As free agent salaries once again escalated into the stratosphere, it was becoming clear that the trade route would be the right road for him to take. In any event, it looks like a positive deal for the Pirates, whose lineup suddenly has \u201clength,\u201d in the parlance of the modern game.<\/p>\n

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#Pirates<\/a> reportedly get Brandon Lowe in this deal.<\/p>\n

Lowe is a 25-30+ HR bat, with a .807 career OPS BUT as of now a rental player.<\/p>\n

One year left on a deal which means he will be motivated to have a big year at PNC Park<\/p>\n

\u2014 Bob Pompeani (@KDPomp) December 19, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n