Rays extend Brandon Lowe's contract with a 2025 club option

Happy November! The offseason has officially begun and the Rays' first move out of the gates should leave most fans with a smile on their face. The Rays have decided to pick up Brandon Lowe's club option for the 2025 season.

The smooth infielder signed a six-year, $24 million contract before the 2019 campaign. The 7th and 8th years were laid out as club options on his contract. This means that the Rays could decide at that point whether or not they want to extend the athlete's time in their organization. However, the luxury tax increases when you pick up a player's option. The tax on Brandon's Lowe's contract increased significantly from 1.69% in 2024 to 4.36%.

Regardless, Lowe has a great incentive to succeed this year because this will be the highest paying year of his young career. The power-hitting second baseman will receive $10.5 million this coming season. He collected $4 million per year the previous five seasons.

Was a contract extension the right decision for Brandon Lowe's current situation? Let's take a deep dive into his tenure with the Rays. The Maryland Terrapin started his MLB career in 2018 at the age of 23. Prior to his time in the major leagues, Lowe spent seven seasons in the minors as he played for Single-A Bowling Green, Double-A Montgomery, and Triple-A Durham.

In his grand total of 343 minor league contests, Lowe collected 344 hits and produced a .278 AVG. His most impressive minor league stint came in 2018 with the Durham Bulls. His power finally unfolded as he hit 14 HRs for the Triple-A club. This success would lead to a call-up to the Rays on August 4, 2018.

The Rays' front office saw enough raw talent from his 43 games in the MLB to complete the 2018 season. He collected 30 hits and carried a .324 OBP, leading to the introduction of his six-year contract. Ever since we inked the Suffolk, Virginia native, he has taken off in every aspect of his game.

Aside from the frequency of injuries, Lowe has been the most productive Rays' hitter since his first full season in 2019. The left-hander has mashed 126 HRs in only six seasons, highlighted by his amazing 39-homer year in 2021. He's also shown his worth in the postseason as he crushed four home runs and drove in eight RBIs in the notorious 2020 playoffs.

In conclusion, Brandon Lowe has become a household name in the world of MLB second basemen. Rays' fans should be stoked to see him return to Tampa Bay for another season as we can expect him to rise to the occasion.