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Nationals Purchase Nathaniel Lowe – MLB Commerce Rumors


The Nationals and Rangers have swung a one-for-one commerce that may see first baseman Nathaniel Lowe head to Washington in alternate for left-hander Robert Garcia.  ESPN’s Jeff Passan (a number of hyperlinks) was the primary to report the deal, which has now been formally introduced by each groups.

Lowe will change groups through commerce for the second time in his profession, because it was simply over 4 years in the past that Lowe was dealt from the Rays to the Rangers as a part of a six-player swap.  The Rays’ first base depth had left Lowe struggling for enjoying time in his first two MLB seasons, however he instantly discovered an everyday job as soon as Texas put in him as its on a regular basis first baseman.  Lowe has performed in 615 of a potential 648 regular-season video games in his 4 seasons with the Rangers, whereas hitting .274/.359/.432 with 78 homers in 2576 plate appearances.

Between his 123 wRC+ over these 4 seasons and more and more robust defensive metrics, Lowe has been value 10.6 fWAR throughout his Rangers tenure.  It isn’t famous person manufacturing and the left-handed hitting Lowe has naturally been extra constant towards right-handed pitching, however he has at worst been a gradual common, with hints of a better ceiling of manufacturing.  Lowe hit .302/.358/.492 with 27 homers over 645 PA in 2022, although a .363 BABIP might have helped contribute to that profession 12 months.

Regardless of Lowe’s very strong play, there had been some whispers that the Rangers could possibly be trying to clear some room at first base.  The recently-acquired Jake Burger figures to get a great chunk of the primary base at-bats now that Lowe is off the roster, with Josh Smith, Justin Foscue, or Ezequiel Duran additionally within the operating for enjoying time relying on how the Rangers decide to rearrange their infield.  Josh Jung is slated to be the common third baseman however Burger, Smith, or Duran may be used on the scorching nook based mostly on matchups.

Lowe’s growing arbitration price ticket was additionally absolutely an element within the Rangers’ resolution.  Now coming into his second arb-eligible 12 months, Lowe was projected to earn $10.7MM for the 2025 season.  It’s hardly an ungainly sum for a Gold Glove-winning first baseman with Lowe’s offensive manufacturing, however since Lowe turns 30 in July, Texas would possibly’ve been contemplating the longer-term query of whether or not or not Lowe was a candidate for a contract extension.

As we speak’s commerce solutions that query, and gaining extra flexibility at a premium place permits the Rangers to each see what they’ve in inside choices, or to doubtlessly preserve first base open for a much bigger free agent or commerce goal down the highway.  Or, such a bat might nonetheless come this offseason, as Texas now has an excellent larger want for left-handed hitting depth after dealing Lowe.

It was no secret that the Nationals have been trying to improve at first base this winter, as such free brokers as Christian Walker and Paul Goldschmidt have been on Washington’s radar.  Walker signed with the Astros and Goldschmidt joined the Yankees simply inside the final week, which fairly presumably prompted the Nats to finish this commerce because the first-base market continues to rapidly skinny out.

The Lowe deal is the clearest signal but that the Nationals are prepared to finish their rebuild after 5 straight dropping seasons.  The Nats’ youth motion has led to CJ Abrams, James Wooden, Dylan Crews, and Luis Garcia Jr. changing into elements of the on a regular basis lineup, however a lot extra offensive assist was nonetheless required for a group that completed close to the again of the pack in a number of main offensive classes.

In including Lowe, the Nationals now have a participant nonetheless in his prime who can convey a veteran voice and championship expertise to the clubhouse, along with what Lowe can present on the sphere.  There may be even a barely hometown-hero side to the commerce, as Lowe was born a couple of hours’ down the highway from D.C. in Norfolk, Virginia.

The Nats have loads of payroll area accessible, so Lowe’s salaries aren’t any sort of concern for the group.  Addressing first base by buying and selling for Lowe as an alternative of, say, spending way more in wage and draft capital to signal a Walker or a Pete Alonso permits president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo to nonetheless preserve his monetary powder dry for different massive strikes this winter or (maybe extra possible) subsequent offseason or doubtlessly on the commerce deadline.  Rizzo and group possession would possibly favor to provide it another season to see what they actually have of their younger core earlier than actually placing the pedal down in a full-fledged run in direction of competition.  On this situation, Lowe is already beneath management if 2026 is absolutely the Nationals “go for it” sort of 12 months.

Garcia’s position within the deal shouldn’t be neglected, because the Nationals now have an excellent larger want for reduction pitching after dealing away a southpaw who confirmed loads of promise in his first two Main League seasons.  Washington claimed Garcia off waivers from the Marlins in August 2023, and the lefty has a 4.03 ERA, 28.6% strikeout price, 46.6% grounder price, and seven.4% stroll price over 91 2/3 profession reduction innings.

Fifty-nine and two-thirds of these frames got here final season, as Garcia posted a deceptive 4.22 ERA that was inflated by some unhealthy luck.  Garcia had a .329 BABIP and a really low 57.2% strand price, and his 2.71 SIERA is maybe a greater reflection of simply how strong Garcia’s efficiency was in 2024.  The left-hander doesn’t convey a lot in the way in which of velocity, however his fastball is used primarily to arrange his glorious changeup, which was quietly one of many more practical changeups thrown by any pitcher in baseball.

With a swath of above-average Statcast metrics, Garcia will present an enormous increase to the Texas bullpen if he can replicate these numbers on his new membership.  Garcia joins Jacob Webb and Hoby Milner as current new additions to a reduction corps that was destined to bear an overhaul with Kirby Yates, Jose Leclerc, and David Robertson all coming into free company.  Since this trio remains to be unsigned, the Rangers might hunt down reunions with any of their very own free brokers, however naturally it is smart to fortify the pen with different longer-term arms like Garcia.  The left-hander turns 29 in June however is arb-controlled by the 2029 season.

Photograph courtesy of USA As we speak Sports activities Pictures

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