Red Sox reportedly showing interest in recently released first baseman Nathaniel Lowe

Red Sox

Lowe has struggled in 2025, but could be an intriguing late addition at a position of need for Boston.

Even though the Red Sox didn’t add a first baseman to their lineup at the trade deadline, an opportunity might fall into their lap to bolster the position anyway.

Veteran and former Gold Glover Nathaniel Lowe was designated for assignment this week, and is a pending free agent after the Nationals elected to unconditionally release him.

Soon, he’ll be able to sign wherever he likes for the remainder of 2025. And Boston is expected to be in the mix to sign him, according to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo.

The Red Sox would provide an intriguing offering for Lowe. They are a potential playoff contender, and could provide some assurance that Lowe would be a fairly consistent starter at first base.

Granted, given Romy Gonzalez’s downright dominance against lefties this season (.354 batting average against them), Lowe might have to be open to a platoon role, playing frequently against righties and sitting against southpaws.

Whether a situation like that would dissuade Lowe from signing with Boston is yet to be seen, but the place he signs with won’t be based on money. Because the Nationals are releasing him, they’ll still be on the hook for the rest of his 2025 contract. So, any team interested will have the rare opportunity to add a former Gold Glover as essentially a two-month rental before Lowe has a true free agency in the offseason.

The Red Sox’ primary first baseman this season, Abraham Toro, has fared reasonably well considering he only emerged as a consistent starter after Triston Casas’s early-season injury. However, first base has still been one of the weaker spots in Boston’s lineup.

Given that Lowe was on the Red Sox’s radar earlier this season, it makes sense that the team would still be showing interest now that they could land him at a bargain.

Lowe is only batting .215 in 2025, but it’s been an outlier year for him. He’s never finished a full season batting lower than .262 (excluding the truncated 2020 season). He had a career-high .302 batting average in 2022 — winning a Silver Slugger for his efforts. The following year was his Gold Glove season, and he’s still only two years removed from that campaign.

Regardless of his down year, Lowe has a high ceiling and could be greatly beneficial for the Red Sox if they’re able to lure him to Boston for a stretch run.