BOSTON — The trade deadline passed more than two weeks ago, but that doesn’t mean the Red Sox are done considering external additions to their roster for the home stretch.
According to industry sources, Boston is expected to be in the mix to sign first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, who was designated for assignment by the Nationals earlier this week and is in the process of being unconditionally released. Washington requested release waivers on Lowe on Saturday, so he should become a free agent within the next 48 hours.
At that point, he’ll be able to sign with any team for the prorated portion of the major league minimum. The Red Sox, who could use a left-handed bat at first base, are expected to jump in and pursue Lowe at that point. They could face competition from other contenders looking to make an upgrade. Because money isn’t a factor (Lowe will make the remainder of his $10.3 million salary from the Nationals regardless of where he signs), teams pursuing Lowe will have to try to woo him with opportunity, both when it comes to playing time and potential championship contention.
Lowe, who turned 30 last month, has had a down year after the Rangers sent him to Washington in a December trade. He has hit just .216 with 16 homers, 68 RBIs, a .665 OPS and a 26.5% strikeout rate. He has been much better against righties (.235 average, .732 OPS) than lefties (.174, .516) so would project as a platoon partner alongside lefty masher Romy Gonzalez if he were to join the Red Sox.
Boston views Lowe — a former Silver Slugger winner (2022) and Gold Glover (2023) — as an option because his track record of big league success suggests that there’s still a high ceiling despite his 2025 struggles. The Sox are intrigued by the fact they could catch “lightning in a bottle” at a low cost over the final six weeks of the season with Lowe if a change of scenery and some tweaks lead to increased output.
A potential pursuit of Lowe would threaten the roster spot of Abraham Toro, who was an unexpected bright spot for the Red Sox when he first joined the team after Triston Casas’ season-ending knee injury but has struggled for a prolonged stretch at the plate. Toro has watched his OPS fall more than 200 points in the last two months, hitting just .199 with a .562 OPS in his last 50 games. On the season, Toro has a .238 average and .680 OPS against righties. The ceiling of Lowe is much higher.
Still, Toro, in starting 64 games (including 55 at first base) has given the Red Sox something this year and manager Alex Cora has appreciated it.
“He has been amazing for us,” Cora said Saturday. “Without him and without Romy in that spot, we’re not in this position. When Casas went down, we got him here and we started producing. The numbers have cooled down but the at-bats — yesterday, he put two good at-bats.
“Defensively, he’s done more than enough. I think we have played him more than he thought he would play. We have to make sure we take care of him. But he’s been great. He has been in this situation before with winning teams.”
Kristian Campbell, who has been at Triple-A since mid-June, has primarily played first base for the WooSox in recent weeks and could also factor into the mix with a late-season call-up. On Friday, Cora said he thought Campbell had more ”work to do” before being promoted.
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