First baseman Nathaniel Lowe signed with the Boston Red Sox on Monday, the club announced.
The deal, which is for a prorated portion of the major league minimum after Lowe was designated for assignment by Washington earlier this month and went unclaimed on waivers, adds a veteran hitter to a first-base mix that has been uncertain since Triston Casas’ season-ending knee injury in May. In announcing a series of moves, the club said Lowe will wear No. 37.
The Red Sox also announced that outfielder Rob Refsnyder was placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Aug. 15, because of a left oblique strain. The club recalled infielder/outfielder Nate Eaton from Triple-A Worcester, as well, and designated catcher Ali Sanchez for assignment.
Lowe, 30, had been a consistent presence for the Texas Rangers for the past four seasons, including their World Series championship run in 2023. But after an offseason trade to the Nationals, Lowe posted career lows in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
Nevertheless, Boston was thrilled to bring him in, hopeful he can find a resurgence at Fenway Park, where he could fit nicely on the left side of a platoon. Lowe has hit 14 home runs in 337 plate appearances against right-handers this season, posting an OPS+ 20% better than league average.
“A left-handed hitter who has been there, done that,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said in his pregame media availability Monday before his club took on the Baltimore Orioles. “He was part of the Rangers, when they won [the 2023 World Series].
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“He’s excited to be here. We’ll use him against righties, certain lefties, and to pinch hit late. We’ll maximize the roster.”
The Red Sox have split time at first between veterans Abraham Toro against right-handed starters and Romy Gonzalez against left-handers. In 109 plate appearances against lefties, Gonzalez is hitting .354/.404/.667. After a strong start to the season, Toro’s performance has faltered over the past five weeks, leaving a potential opportunity for Lowe.
Despite the questions at first, Boston ranks fourth in runs scored in the majors with 626 in 125 games, just 14 behind the big league-leading Los Angeles Dodgers. The Red Sox have potential fortification waiting at Triple-A as well, with rookie Kristian Campbell righting his swing, Vaughn Grissom still playing well enough for an opportunity and top prospect Jhostynxon Garcia slugging 17 home runs in 65 games.
With Lowe going unclaimed on waivers, the Nationals will owe him most of the remainder of his $10.3 million salary. Lowe will be arbitration-eligible next offseason, offering the possibility Boston could bring him back in 2026.
At 68-57 this season, the Red Sox are tied with the Seattle Mariners for the top wild-card spot in the American League, a half-game ahead of the New York Yankees. The next-closest team in the AL wild-card race is Cleveland, which is 3½ games behind New York.
