The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired second baseman Brandon Lowe (pronounced “now”), outfielder Jake Mangum, and left‑handed reliever Mason Montgomery from the Tampa Bay Rays as part of a three‑team trade. In a corresponding move, Pittsburgh sent right‑handed pitcher Mike Burrows to the Houston Astros.
Brandon Lowe Brings Proven Power to Pittsburgh
Lowe, 31, is coming off an All‑Star season in which he hit .256 (130-for-507) with 19 doubles, 31 home runs, and 83 RBI across 134 games for Tampa Bay. His 25 home runs as a second baseman led all players at the position in Major League Baseball.
In 2025, Lowe’s 31 home runs as a left‑handed hitter tied for the fifth‑most in the American League, while his 70 RBI as a second baseman ranked third among MLB players at the position.
A consistent power threat, Lowe hit 21 home runs in both 2023 and 2024, and his 73 left‑handed homers from 2023–25 were the fourth‑most in the American League during that span, trailing only Corey Seager (84), Gunnar Henderson (82), and Rafael Devers (76).
Lowe’s best season came in 2021, when he launched 39 home runs and drove in 99, finishing tied for sixth in MLB in homers and second among left‑handed hitters behind Shohei Ohtani (46).
Across eight seasons with Tampa Bay (2018–25), Lowe has hit .247 with 126 doubles, 157 home runs, 446 RBI, and an .807 OPS in 745 games. He was previously an All‑Star in 2019 and has appeared in 29 postseason games over three playoff runs.
Jake Mangum Adds Speed, Defense, and Contact Hitting
Mangum, 29, impressed as a rookie in 2025, batting .296 (120-for-405) with 18 doubles, 3 home runs, 40 RBI, and 27 stolen bases in 118 games. He earned the MLBPAA Heart & Hustle Award for Tampa Bay and finished second among MLB rookies in steals.
He ranked third among qualified rookies in batting average and fifth in hits, and he closed the season strong, hitting .341 (28-for-82) in September — the second‑highest rookie average that month.
Defensively, Mangum was one of only three Major League outfielders to post a 1.000 fielding percentage over at least 900 innings in 2025, joining Nick Castellanos and Jacob Young.
Mason Montgomery Strengthens the Bullpen
Montgomery, 25, struck out 63 batters in 46.0 innings across 57 relief appearances for Tampa Bay in 2025. His strikeout total ranked fourth among left‑handed rookie relievers and 11th among all rookie relievers league‑wide.
He debuted in 2024, posting a 1.86 ERA with 17 strikeouts and a .188 opponent average over nine outings.
Corresponding Moves Coming
The Pirates will announce additional 40‑man roster moves later today.
