Nathaniel Lowe Designated For Assignment

The Red Sox have officially designated first baseman Nathaniel Lowe for assignment, bringing an unceremonious end to his brief tenure with the team. The move, announced Thursday, clears a 40-man roster spot for infielder Tristan Gray, who was just acquired in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays.

In a corresponding move to prepare for the Rule 5 protection deadline, the Sox also designated right-hander Josh Winckowski for assignment.

This isn’t a shocking development for those following the team. Lowe was brought in as a midseason patch when rising star Triston Casas went down with an injury. The Sox needed a reliable glove at first, and Nathaniel Lowe, who had been released by the Nationals, was available for practically nothing. It was a low-risk move to stop the bleeding, but it was never seen as a long-term solution.

A Calculated Roster Shuffle

The timing of this decision is key. With Friday’s deadline for tendering contracts to arbitration-eligible players looming, the Red Sox are getting their house in order. Designating Lowe now is essentially an early non-tender.

He was projected to earn a hefty $13.5 million in his final year of arbitration, a salary that jumped significantly after his strong seasons with the Texas Rangers. After hitting just .228 with a .307 on-base percentage in 2025, Boston’s front office was never going to foot that bill. With Casas expected to return in 2026, keeping an expensive backup with declining production just didn’t make sense.

What’s Next for Nathaniel Lowe?

While the Red Sox have a short window to trade him, a deal is highly unlikely. No team will want to pick up that $13.5 million salary. The most probable outcome is that Nathaniel Lowe will be non-tendered on Friday, officially hitting the open market as a free agent.

Once he’s free, he becomes a fascinating bounce-back candidate. Don’t let the 2025 stat line fool you; this is a player with a proven track record. From 2021 to 2024 with the Rangers, Lowe was a model of consistency, playing in at least 140 games each season. He was a key cog in their 2023 World Series championship run, even earning a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger award during his time in Texas.

Over those four years, he posted a combined .274/.359/.432 slash line, good for a 124 wRC+—well above the league average. He showed a disciplined eye at the plate with impressive walk rates and consistent power, hitting between 16 and 27 home runs each year.

The First Base Market Heats Up

A down year, combined with his inflated arbitration salary, made Nathaniel Lowe a clear non-tender candidate. But his history of success means general managers across the league will be making calls. He’s a prime “buy-low” target for a team in need of a veteran first baseman who can provide solid defense and a potential middle-of-the-order bat.

Nathaniel Lowe joins a free-agent market for first basemen that includes big names like Pete Alonso and Ryan O’Hearn. With Josh Naylor already re-signing with the Mariners, teams looking for a corner infielder will have another proven option to consider.