2025 Transactions: Red Sox DFA Nathaniel Lowe, Trade Guerrero

The Boston Red Sox made a pair of moves on November 18. Boston traded away recently DFA’d reliever Luis Guerrero to the Rays for infielder Tristan Gray. On top of that, the Sox DFA’d Nathaniel Lowe, who joined Boston late last summer.

Guerrero traded to Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays traded utilityman Tristan Gray to the Red Sox for Luis Guerrero, the 25-year-old right-hander who was designated for assignment earlier this month. Guerrero was outrighted to Triple-A last week.

Guerrero is a hard-throwing right-hander, one who possesses a four-seam fastball with carry that sat in the 94-96 MPH range, and hit as high as 99 in the Majors. The 25-year-old did a good job of limiting well-hit contact (6.3% Barrel%) and generated swings-and-misses. However, it didn’t lead to strikeouts, as he only had 10 over 17.1 IP.

The new Rays reliever walked a lot of batters, however. Guerrero walked 14 over 17.1 IP last season, a theme throughout his pro career. The 25-year-old walked 112 batters over 178.2 IP career innings.

He’ll head to a Rays team that’s well-known for its philosophy of encouraging pitchers to attack and aim for the middle of the plate.

In return, the Red Sox acquired 29-year-old Tristan Gray. Gray has power; he averaged above-average in terms of bat speed last season at the MLB level. He also had two 30+ home run seasons (2022 and 2023) with the Rays’ Triple-A affiliate.

Yet, he does strike out a lot.

Gray has 47 games of MLB experience across parts of three years.

Lowe DFA’d

Boston designated Nathaniel Lowe for assignment in a corresponding move.

Lowe signed with the Red Sox in August 2025 after he was DFA’d by the Nationals. At the time, it made sense, given that the Red Sox were without Triston Casas. His arrival gave the Sox a chance to mix and match, along with Romy Gonzalez, via a platoon.

The 30-year-old did fine as a Red Sox, as he slashed .280/.370/.420 with nine extra-base hits.

The Red Sox retained control of Lowe after the 2025 season, as he had one year of arbitration left.