BOSTON \u2014 When Nathaniel Lowe was designated for assignment by the Nationals on Thursday, he knew he\u2019d likely have to decide on his new team in short order. Once he cleared waivers and was released, he was available to all teams for the prorated portion of the major league minimum. By Sunday, he was in Boston ahead of signing a contract with the Red Sox.<\/p>\n
Lowe, who joined the roster Monday after his deal became official, saw an opportunity with the Red Sox, who will use him as their primary first baseman against right-handed pitchers and at 68-57, have a good chance to be playing in October.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always enjoyed coming here as a visiting player,\u201d Lowe said. \u201cThe gameday environment is so great and seeing this team win and being part of something like that is so attractive. There\u2019s a need for first base and I\u2019d like to think I can plug myself in and really contribute.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s so exciting. Getting plugged into a lineup that\u2019s having great success and is part of making a great postseason push is what it\u2019s all about. It\u2019s a true blessing to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lowe was available in mid-August, of course, because of poor performance on a last-place Nationals team. When Washington acquired him in a December trade with Texas, the Nats hoped that Lowe \u2014 a former Gold Glover, Silver Slugger and World Series champion \u2014 would provide a stabilizing veteran force at an infield corner. Instead, the 30-year-old showed signs of regression on both sides of the ball and through 119 games, was hitting just .216 with 16 homers, 17 doubles and a .665 OPS.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d like to have amnesia,\u201d said Lowe, who is earning $10.3 million this season and can be retained for next year if he plays well down the stretch. \u201cI\u2019d like to wipe it from my memory because it hasn\u2019t gone nearly as well as I\u2019d like it to. There\u2019s still some bright spots that I can look at and still hang my hat on, but there\u2019s so much room for improvement and there\u2019s so much time left for this team to do something special.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t really know what to expect going into D.C. I didn\u2019t make the most of that opportunity. The slash line is nowhere near where I want it to be.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Red Sox have gotten admirable contributions from the platoon of Romy Gonzalez and Abraham Toro at first base since Triston Casas suffered a season-ending knee surgery in early May but the next-to-nothing cost of Lowe, mixed with Toro\u2019s offensive struggles (he\u2019s hitting just .199 with a .562 OPS in his last 50 games) led to the match. According to manager Alex Cora, Lowe will start at first base against righties with Gonzalez getting starts against lefties as the second baseman and Toro, a switch-hitter, continuing to get starts at first against southpaws. Lowe has the highest ceiling of the group as a player who, before 2025, had hit .274 with 78 homers, 299 RBIs and a .791 OPS over a four-season stretch in Texas.<\/p>\n
\u201cLeft-handed hitter who has been there, done that,\u201d Cora said. \u201cHe was part of the Rangers when they won. An up-and-down season for him with the Nationals.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe talked a little bit about the Wall, what it means to lefties. He\u2019s excited to be here. We\u2019ll use him against righties, certain lefties, to pinch-hit late. We\u2019ll maximize the roster.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lowe said he was impressed from afar when, as a member of the Nationals, he got to face the Red Sox during a three-game series at Nationals Park on Fourth of July weekend. Boston bludgeoned Washington to sweep that set, outscoring the Nats, 27-9.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s veteran talent, there\u2019s younger talent, there\u2019s talent on both sides of the ball. It feels like the group has really bought in,\u201d Lowe said. \u201cObviously, I was on the wrong side of a really lopsided series in July so it\u2019s nice to join a team that spanked us the way they did for those three days.<\/p>\n
Over the course of 162, you can trip yourself up. I need to get out of my own way and play my own brand of baseball. I feel like this park and this team allows me an opportunity to do that.”<\/p>\n
The Red Sox also hope Lowe, who homered three times for the Rangers during their World Series run two years ago, can step up when the lights are brightest.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s definitely a different animal,\u201d Lowe said. \u201cYou throw your personal stats aside, and the only thing that matters is winning that day. Playing that brand of baseball down the stretch and obviously, in the postseason, is most important. It\u2019s kind of addicting. The point of the whole thing is winning the whole thing.\u201d<\/p>\n If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and\/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" New Red Sox first baseman Nathaniel Lowe’s thoughts on the first four months of his season are simple. He’d like to “have amnesia” about his time with the Nationals.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":80114,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-80113","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n\n