Nathaniel Lowe Addition Reminiscent Of Past Red Sox Spark Plug

The Boston Red Sox are reportedly adding Nathaniel Lowe to their roster. The first baseman was designated for assignment by the Washington Nationals and is rumored to have agreed to a deal with the Red Sox after clearing waivers.

Lowe has had a down year, but he ranks in the top ten in fWAR among first basemen over the past three seasons. He’s a former Silver Slugger and Gold Glove award winner who might provide the Red Sox with additional production at first base.

It’s not the first time the Red Sox have added a first baseman in August, hoping to get a spark. In 2021, the Red Sox claimed Travis Shaw off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers. He debuted for the team on August 17, 2021, and gave the team a push down the stretch.

Over 28 games, Shaw posted an .843 OPS, including three home runs. In his third game for the team, he hit a walk-off grand slam in the 11th inning against the Texas Rangers.

Lowe and Shaw are both left-handed-hitting first basemen who were removed from their most productive seasons when the Red Sox acquired them. Shaw posted back-to-back seasons with over 3.5 bWAR in 2017 and 2018 before his production dropped off. Lowe registered 8.4 bWAR with 62 home runs from 2021 to 2023.

Much like Lowe, Shaw’s defense production also fell off at the same time as his offense. When Shaw was hitting well early in his career, he also graded as a plus fielder, though he played more third base than first. Lowe played some third early in his career, but primarily plays first base now.

It can be hard to join a new team and make an immediate impact, but Lowe will have opportunities against right-handed pitching. Even in a down year, he’s shown power to all fields with 16 home runs. With the Red Sox in the thick of the playoff chase, running the same play that worked in 2021 might pay dividends.