Free agent first baseman Nathaniel Lowe is signing with the Boston Red Sox, ESPN reported on Sunday night.
Lowe, 30, had been placed on waivers on Saturday by the Washington Nationals after they designated him for assignment on Thursday.
The left-handed-hitting Lowe batted just .216 but was second on the Nationals with 68 RBIs and tied for second with 16 homers. He had 130 strikeouts in 440 at-bats and was just 3-for-33 (.091) over 10 games this month.
Boston has been playing a platoon of veterans Abraham Toro (a switch hitter) against right-handed starting pitchers and Romy Gonzalez against left-handers since starting first baseman Tristan Casas ruptured the patellar tendon in his left knee in May.
ESPN reported that Lowe’s contract with the Red Sox will be for a prorated portion of the major league minimum. After he went unclaimed on waivers, Washington will owe him most of what remains of his $10.3 million salary, per ESPN’s report.
Washington had acquired Lowe, a Gold Glove first baseman in 2023 for Texas, from the Rangers in the offseason for left-hander Robert Garcia.
Lowe spent four seasons (2021-24) with the Rangers and was a key contributor to their 2023 World Series championship team. He was a Silver Slugger winner in 2022 when he established career bests of 27 homers and a .302 batting average.
Lowe also played two seasons (2019-20) for the Tampa Bay Rays. He has a .263 average with 105 homers and 397 RBIs in 805 career games.
Earlier on Sunday, Boston manager Alex Cora announced that versatile rookie infielder Marcelo Mayer will undergo surgery on his right wrist that will end his season. Mayer played both third and second base.
–Field Level Media
