In a three-team trade that reflects the desire of each club to improve without dipping into the free agent market, the Tampa Bay Rays, Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros exchanged six players on Dec. 19, with the Rays shipping two-time All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe to Pittsburgh.
The Pirates also received two other big league pieces in the transaction – speedy outfielder Jake Mangum and left-handed reliever Mason Montgomery. They gave up precious starting pitching capital, as the unheralded but effective right-hander, Mike Burrows, is headed to the Astros.
In return, the Astros are shipping outfielder Jacob Melton – currently ranked their No. 2 prospect – and top 10 pitching prospect Anderson Brito to Tampa Bay.
The deal was first reported by the Athletic.
The Rays were particularly busy Dec. 19, also agreeing to trade starting pitcher Shane Baz to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for four prospects and a draft pick.
In the multi-team swap, the Rays are giving up the most current value to buttress their organizational depth, but Melton – who made a 32-game debut in 2025 – is considered close to the majors, while Brito dominated in high A ball last year.
The Pirates were the beneficiary. They grab Lowe, who hit 31 home runs last season and has four seasons of at least 21 home runs, shoring up a second base spot that was lacking. Mangum was a disruptive force for the Rays in his debut last season, stealing 27 bases and posting a .330 OBP in 118 games, though he hit just three homers and managed 22 extra-base hits.
Lowe, however, is in the final year of his contract after the Rays picked up his $11.5 million 2026 option.
In Burrows, the Astros get a right-hander with less than one year of service time who posted a 3.94 ERA and struck out 97 in 96 innings last season, when he made 19 starts in 23 appearances. Led by Paul Skenes, the Pirates had pitching depth from which to deal, and they provided the biggest fireworks on the largest transaction so far this offseason.
