Brandon Lowe Could Address Padres’ Second-Base Need
On November 3, the San Diego Padres were identified as a strong potential fit for free-agent second baseman Brandon Lowe, whose next contract was projected at three years and $45 million.
The San Diego Padres could pursue Brandon Lowe to strengthen their lineup after a season in which their offense was uneven. The left-handed-hitting second baseman, who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2026, was projected to receive a three-year, $45 million contract.
Lowe hit 35 home runs with a .260 batting average, .331 on-base percentage and .493 slugging percentage. His .824 OPS and 96 RBIs marked a productive campaign, and his 5.4 bWAR was a career high. It was his first season in Pittsburgh after eight years with the Tampa Bay Rays.
The fit would address a weak spot at second base. Jake Cronenworth batted .225 and posted a .629 OPS for San Diego. His defensive Outs Above Average was minus-5, while Lowe’s rating of 15 ranked in the 98th percentile among major-league players. Cronenworth is owed about $12.3 million annually through 2030, so moving some or all of that contract could create room for another player.
Lowe’s power may also suit Petco Park. Most of his home runs went to right field at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park, and the right-field fence at Petco is only slightly farther away at the foul pole, though it is farther at its deepest point. The wall is also substantially lower.
San Diego finished the season strongly, going 42-19 after sitting three games below .500 in late July, then reached the National League Division Series before losing to eventual champion Milwaukee. The Padres’ offseason priority is also expected to include rebuilding their starting rotation, while adding a consistent bat could reduce the need for another late-season surge.