On the offensive side of the ball, the Pittsburgh Pirates' biggest non-Brandon Lowe priorities are adding right-handed pop, finding a solution for third base, and adding depth to the bench. If the club could wrap up all three of these items in one transaction, it would seem like a huge win.
The Pirates were connected to Houston Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes last offseason, and again at the 2026 trade deadline. Many believe that Paredes could be on the block again, as the Astros' infield logjam will resurface with Carlos Correa returning from injury in 2027. Additionally, Houston has the same needs as last year, with its pitching staff in shambles, and now, with Paredes entering his final year of team control, he will be less expensive to acquire than last year.