The Red Sox have been flat-out outgunning the Yankees this season—six games in, and Boston’s taken five of them. Now, there’s another chapter in this classic rivalry, but this time, the battle stretches beyond the foul lines. Both teams are desperate for reinforcements, and you might remember we talked about them going head-to-head for a Nationals first baseman, Nathaniel Lowe.
Well, Lowe had been Washington’s primary guy at first base for most of the year, but with his tough 2025 showing, the Nats decided to DFA him. On paper, his 16 HRs and 68 RBIs look respectable for the team’s highest-paid player on the active roster entering the season ($10.3 mil)—right in line with his career track. But that .216/.292/.373 slash line told a different story. His batting average and on-base numbers just weren’t cutting it.
And now? The Red Sox have swooped in and given him a new home in Boston.
“First baseman Nathaniel Lowe and the Boston Red Sox are finalizing a deal, sources tell ESPN. Lowe was DFA’d by Washington earlier this week and will head to Boston and join one of the best lineups in the league,” MLB insider Jeff Passan shared.
First baseman Nathaniel Lowe and the Boston Red Sox are finalizing a deal, sources tell ESPN. Lowe was DFA’d by Washington earlier this week and will head to Boston and join one of the best lineups in the league.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 18, 2025
Now, this move doesn’t come as much of a shock. Reportedly, the Red Sox have been tied to Lowe since back in May, right after Triston Casas went down with what looks like a season-ending knee injury. Boston kept tabs on him leading up to the trade deadline, but nothing ever materialized with the Nationals. But once Washington DFA’d Lowe and put him on waivers yesterday, the Red Sox were ready to pounce on the former Gold Glove winner. And here they are, having the last laugh.
And the Yankees?
The Yankees’ struggle to land a big bat just keeps dragging on. At the trade deadline, they settled for beefing up the bullpen instead of locking down a first baseman, and the search hasn’t stopped since. Things got even tougher after Paul Goldschmidt went down with a knee sprain. Now, the Red Sox just amplified their first base pain.
The Red Sox’s trade deadline moves serve as a backdrop for pursuing Lowe
Yes, the Red Sox were desperate to land Lowe, but similar to the Yankees, they are also deprived of a reliable 1B, post Triston Casas’ injury. But surprisingly, their trade deadline moves didn’t resonate with this need. The Red Sox landed two pitchers but no security at first base.
Since Casas went down with his knee injury, the Sox have been patching things together at first with an Abraham Toro/Romy Gonzalez platoon. Everyone figured they’d go after some first base help before the trade deadline. But they didn’t end up adding any bats. And to his credit, Gonzalez, the righty, has more than done his part in the mix (.294 BA & 8 HRs).
But that still was a stopgap solution, and the reason for the Red Sox being so aggressive to land Lowe.
Hence, the acquisition of Lowe is surely going to bolster the Red Sox’s offense. However, more than that, it serves as a reminder about the botched trade deadline for the team. Now, all eyes will be on how Lowe performed here in Boston amid his low-key affair this year.
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