BOSTON -- The Red Sox started the week by adding some much-needed pop at first base with the signing of free agent first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, who was immediately added to the roster and available to play in Monday’s game against the Orioles.
The left-handed hitter will make his first start for Boston on Tuesday when the Orioles start righty Tomoyuki Sugano.
“He is a left-handed hitter who has been there, done that,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “He was part of the Rangers when they won. So an up-and-down season for him with the Nationals. Hopefully [he improves] here. We talk a little bit about the wall, what it means to lefties, and he's excited to be here. We'll use him against righties, certain lefties, pinch-hit late. We’ll maximize the roster.”
The 30-year-old was designated for assignment by the Nationals on Aug. 14.
Lowe struggled to hit consistently with Washington, the team he was traded to by the Rangers on Dec. 22, 2024. Lowe made a big jump in the standings going from the 50-74 Nats to the 68-57 Sox.
“It's so exciting,” said Lowe. “Getting plugged into a lineup that's having great success, and is part of making a great postseason push, is what it's all about. It’s a true blessing to be here.”
Lowe, who earned $10.3 million with the Nationals this season, signed with the Red Sox for the pro-rated minimum. He has a year of arbitration eligibility left, but Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow made this move with this season in mind.
In 119 games and 490 at-bats with the Nats, Lowe slashed .216/.292/.373 with 17 doubles, two triples, 16 homers and 68 RBIs.
“I didn’t really know what to expect going into DC, and I was hoping I would make the most of that opportunity. The slash line is nowhere near where I want it to be,” said Lowe. “I'd like to have amnesia. I'd like to kind of wipe it from my memory, because it hasn't gone nearly as well as I'd like it to. There's so much room for improvement. There's a lot of time left.”
In Lowe, the Red Sox get someone who played 161 games for the World Series champion Rangers in 2023, registering a sturdy .775 OPS that year. The Rangers got a big boost from Lowe in that year’s American League Championship Series against the Astros, when he belted two homers with four RBIs. Texas won that series in seven games.
“It's definitely a different animal,” Lowe said of October baseball. “You throw your personal stats aside, and the only thing that matters is winning that day. Playing that brand of baseball down the stretch and obviously in the postseason is most important. It's kind of addicting. It's like, the point of the whole thing is winning the whole thing. We’d like to think there’s a chance to do that.”
Lowe also played 20 games for the American League champion Rays in 2020, though he played just one game in that postseason.
The Red Sox projected big things at first base from Triston Casas for this season, but that went for naught when the left-handed hitter ruptured the patellar tendon in his left knee on May 2.
Boston hoped that Rafael Devers would consider switching from designated hitter to first base, but he declined, which played a big role in the star slugger getting traded to the Giants on June 15.
Manager Alex Cora has mainly relied on a first base platoon of Abraham Toro and Romy Gonzalez. While Gonzalez has been effective all season against left-handed pitching while roaming between first and second base, Toro’s bat has gone cold in recent weeks.
In his last 27 games, Toro has a line of .161/.216/.253 with two homers and eight RBIs.
Here are Boston’s rankings at first base this season:
- .238 BA (22nd)
- .295 OBP (25th)
- .391 SLG (20th)
- .686 OPS (22nd)
- 14 HR (T-20th)
The struggles have been even more pronounced against righties, as evidenced by the following numbers:
- .212 BA (26th)
- .276 OBP (28th)
- .339 SLG (27th)
- .615 OPS (T-28th)
- 9 HR (T-22nd)
With 37 games left in their season, the 68-57 Sox are in second place in the American League East, trailing the Blue Jays by five games. Boston is tied with Seattle for the top Wild Card spot, with the Yankees lurking just a half-game behind in the third spot.
“I've always enjoyed coming here as a visiting player,” said Lowe. “I think that the game-day environment is so great. Seeing this team win, being a part of something like that is so attractive. There's a need for first base, and I'd like to think I can plug myself in and really contribute.”
Along with the Lowe signing, the Red Sox also announced these additional moves on Monday: Outfielder Rob Refsnyder was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain; Infielder/outfielder Nate Eaton was recalled from Triple-A Worcester; and catcher Ali Sánchez was designated for assignment.
Meanwhile, starting right fielder Wilyer Abreu is sidelined for at least a couple of days with tightness in his right calf. The Red Sox are hoping he can avoid the injured list, but it depends on how he progresses in the next couple of days.