The Tampa Bay Rays are entering an important winter as they attempt to return to the postseason. The Rays are always in the middle of trade rumors during this time of the calendar. The rumors are starting to feel a little more real with the inclusion of a fan-favorite among the top trade candidates. Fans are accustomed to players getting traded, but this maneuver would certainly cause a ripple.
Brandon Lowe Makes One List of Top Offseason Trade Candidates
Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire
Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe has a 2026 team option that is expected to be picked up. Lowe, 31, will become a free agent next season, which typically inspires the payroll-minded Rays to start exploring trades. The native of Maryland has spent his entire playing career in Tampa Bay, but the Rays may strike while the iron is hot. The Athletic’s Jim Bowden listed his top 10 trade candidates in a Thursday article, and the Rays All-Star made the list.
“The 31-year-old will be a free agent after next season, and if they’re ever going to trade him, the time is now,” Bowden wrote.
Lowe Had a Career Year
Lowe is a two-time All-Star who just swatted 31 home runs, which was the second-best of his career and his highest tally since 2021. That 2021 season was the last time Lowe was fully healthy. His strong season landed him among the American League Silver Slugger finalists. Even though Lowe still has too much swing-and-miss, he hasn’t lost anything on his bat speed just yet. Lowe may be reaching the wrong side of 30 years old, but his Bat Speed ranks in the 75th percentile. His Average Exit Velocity, Barrel %, and xSLG are all in the 75th percentile or better.
They played the hits
Congrats to Yandy, B. Lowe and Junior on being named Silver Slugger Award Finalists! pic.twitter.com/pR0mJElq5D
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) October 23, 2025
This is a player capable of unilaterally carrying an offense like he did on a road trip in August. He hit .279 with five home runs and 10 RBI during a period of time that kept the Rays’ faint playoff hopes alive. Lowe hit his longest home run of the season at Sutter Health Field in Sacramento, with the ball traveling an estimated 458 feet to center field.
Rivals Smell Blood
Bowden lists two American League rivals that should attempt to poach Lowe from the Rays. The New York Yankees have Jazz Chisholm Jr. seemingly entrenched at second base, but Lowe can play first base and represents a left-handed bat the Yankees could utilize. Maybe the Yankees are more willing to dangle Chisholm in trade talks with other clubs this winter.
Meanwhile, the Houston Astros have question marks in their infield with Jose Altuve‘s long-term future at the position being an open question. The Astros missed the postseason for the first time since 2016 and face an uphill climb in their division with the Seattle Mariners.
The Last Word
The Rays are facing a fork in the road with trade rumors surrounding their best players. The club realized that it needed to start evaluating young players when the playoffs were a pipe dream. Carson Williams was given an extended opportunity to prove himself.
If the Rays don’t feel like the postseason is a realistic possibility, then they may trade players like Brandon Lowe and Yandy Díaz this winter. The Rays could move Lowe and install Taylor Walls as the main option at the keystone, but the offense would likely suffer a huge blow in that event. The Rays could trade Díaz and see if Xavier Isaac is ready for the big leagues. All of these discussions will be playing out as new ownership takes control and strives to make a solid first impression. These decisions will have a big impact on the Rays down the line.
Main Photo Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
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