Brandon Lowe Is the Power Bat Red Sox Need, Regardless of the Fit Concerns

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For as good as the Boston Red Sox’s pitching staff was this year, their offense wasn’t quite on the same level. The team allowed the third-fewest runs in baseball, but they ranked just 23rd in runs scored. If the Red Sox want to get past the Wild Card Round in 2027, their offense needs an upgrade. Which is why I think impending free agent second baseman Brandon Lowe is the perfect guy for them to target this winter.

Lowe is one of the best power hitters in the sport, especially for a position that typically doesn’t produce much power. He’s hit 66 home runs over the last two seasons combined, and there’s no denying his offensive prowess. Among all primary second basemen this season, Lowe led the way with 35 homers, 66 extra-base hits and an .824 OPS. That kind of production is something Boston desperately needs. Only four teams across the league hit fewer than the Red Sox’s 163 home runs in 2026. Home runs aren’t everything, but for an offense that finished 23rd in runs scored, adding Lowe’s bat to the middle of the lineup is an easy way to improve that number.

And it doesn’t hurt that Lowe was also one of the best defenders in baseball this year. He finished in the 98th percentile for Outs Above Average with +15, along with +13 Defensive Runs Saved. Those metrics evaluate defense differently and can sometimes offer mixed opinions on a player’s performance. In Lowe’s case, however, both agree that he was an elite defender at the keystone.

It’s worth noting that this season was an outlier defensively. Lowe has historically been a fairly poor defender at second base, so it would be foolish to assume he’ll maintain this level of play indefinitely. Still, you don’t go from a poor defender to an elite one by accident. Pittsburgh seemingly figured something out with him this past year, and it’s reasonable to expect Lowe to remain a solid defender even if he doesn’t quite replicate his 2026 performance.

If the Red Sox were to sign Lowe, the next question would be how to configure their lineup. The Red Sox traded for Curtis Mead at the deadline, presumably with the intention of him being their everyday second baseman. It hasn’t been his primary position throughout his career, as he’s spent more time at the corner infield spots, but his lone game with the organization last season came at second base. Personally, I think the best approach would be to put Lowe at second and make Mead the primary third baseman. Caleb Durbin’s quality of contact last year ranked among the worst in baseball, and his underlying numbers suggest his .710 OPS should have been significantly lower. The Sox love Durbin’s glove at third base, though, which complicates things.

What's probably the most likely scenario is that Lowe would serve as the primary designated hitter. Mead would probably remain the everyday second baseman, leaving few opportunities for Lowe to play the field on a regular basis. That would diminish some of his value following his breakout defensive season, but it’s not as though he’d be stuck at DH every day. Players need days off, and injuries are inevitable over a 162-game season. Lowe’s glove is, or at least was, too good to leave off the field entirely. He could give Boston some defensive flexibility while allowing manager Chad Tracy to keep his regulars fresh throughout the season.

So, what would a contract for Lowe look like? The second base market has climbed in recent years, but Lowe will turn 33 next season. That makes a lengthy deal less likely and could push negotiations toward a shorter contract with a higher annual salary. Jorge Polanco signed a two-year, $40 million deal with the Mets this past offseason, which feels like a reasonable baseline for Lowe. That contract obviously aged horrendously, but the structure makes sense. Polanco was also brought in to serve as New York’s primary designated hitter, a role Lowe could fill in Boston.

Lowe might command a little more annually (or an extra year or two), particularly coming off a season in which he hit 35 home runs and played elite defense at second base. Still, a deal in that general range feels feasible, and the opportunity to join a team looking to make a deep run in October could make Boston an appealing destination.