PITTSBURGH — Brandon Lowe is a free agent and the Pittsburgh Pirates are doing what they can to keep him with the franchise.

The Pirates extended a qualifying offer to Lowe for the 2027 season, $23.15 million, that, if he accepts, would be a one-year contract.

Pittsburgh had until Nov. 2, today, to extend the qualifying offer, as it was the deadline, so they got it in just in time.

Lowe has until Nov. 17 to accept the offer or he will decline it and stay a free agent.

It is most likely that Lowe will decline the qualifying offer and test his value on the free-agent market, as he can get a long-term contract at 32, instead of waiting a year to do that.

Lowe had an excellent season for the Pirates and was the best power-hitting second baseman in baseball, leading with 35 home runs, .493 slugging percentage and a .824 OPS.

His 35 home runs were the most for a Pirate since Josh Bell hit 37 in 2019 and the most for a Pirate in their first season with the team, with only Brian Giles' 39 in 1998 more.

Lowe signing with the Pirates or not will have big consequences for 2027 and how the team looks for next season.