After missing the end of the regular season and the playoffs in 2023, Brandon Lowe of the Tampa Bay Rays is expected to be healthy enough for spring training in 2024.
Per Rays' reporter Marc Topkin, who is covering the team at the Winter Meetings in Nashville:
#Rays 2B Brandon Lowe (and family) are at the Opryland hotel today checking out the sights and scenes and the meetings.
Lowe said his broken right kneecap has healed and he should have no limitations going forward this winter or going into the season.
Having Lowe healthy is certainly a good thing for Tampa Bay as he's an integral part of the lineup. Also, he could become more important to the team in 2024 if Wander Franco is unable to play. Randy Arozarena and Isaac Paredes have also been discussed as trade candidates this offseason, which could continue to make Lowe's value rise.
The 29-year-old Lowe has unfortunately dealt with injuries a lot recently. He played just 109 games in 2023 and only played 65 in 2022. A powerful offensive force when healthy, he hit 21 homers last season with 68 RBI. Never much of an average hitter, he hit only .231 a season ago.
It's interesting that Lowe's name hasn't come up in trade rumors this offseason. He's a free agent after the 2024 season, which means he's in the last year of his contract. That's usually the kind of short-term deal that teams like to acquire, and it's usually the kind of situation that the Rays like to deal from as well.
Tampa Bay won 99 games last season and was eliminated in the wild card round of the playoffs.
More must-reads: