Ex-Red Sox First Baseman Listed Among ‘Most Underrated’ Available Free Agents

Nathaniel Lowe played small but notable role for the Boston Red Sox in 2025.

After starting the year with the Washington Nationals (following his trade from the Texas Rangers in December 2024), Lowe struggled, posting a subpar .689 OPS overall. Designated for assignment in mid-August, he signed with Boston on August 18, providing a spark as a first-base stopgap.

In 34 games, Lowe batted .280 with two home runs, six doubles, and 16 RBIs, including clutch hits like a game-tying ninth-inning homer against the Baltimore Orioles and multiple RBI singles versus Toronto. He started all three postseason games for the Red Sox, though a defensive miscue in the playoffs drew scrutiny. Boston non-tendered him in November, leaving him a free agent.

Well, Lowe is still available on the market as of December 22, and on Monday, Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller made the case that Lowe is one of the most underrated assets out there.

Miller acknowledged that Lowe had a wildly difficult time hitting lefties in 2025, but that it doesn’t completely erode his current value.

“Maybe he bounces back in 2026 and starts seeing the ball out of left hands again?” Miller wrote. “Or maybe he’s simply the left-handed hitting portion of a platoon situation now? … Maybe some team could simultaneously sign Lowe and Paul Goldschmidt to man first base? Goldy used to be an indiscriminate weapon at the dish, but over the past two seasons, he has a .651 OPS against right-handed pitching compared to .911 against southpaws.”

Lowe’s 2025 numbers ended up being .228/ .307/ .381 with 18 homers and 84 RBIs.

Lowe’s career began with the Tampa Bay Rays, who drafted him in 2016 from Mississippi State. Debuting in 2019, he was traded to Texas in 2020, where he thrived from 2021-2024, earning a 2022 Silver Slugger and Gold Glove, and contributing to the Rangers’ 2023 World Series title. Across seven seasons, he has compiled a .264 career average with 107 home runs, showcasing steady power and defense despite 2025’s setbacks.