The Pink Sox introduced that first baseman Nathaniel Lowe has been designated for project. Chris Cotillo of MassLive reported the transfer shortly earlier than the official announcement. That opens a 40-man spot for Tristan Grey, who has been acquired from the Rays. The Sox are additionally designating right-hander Josh Winckowski for project, studies Ari Alexander of seven Information. That can open one other 40-man spot, presumably for Boston so as to add somebody forward of at this time’s Rule 5 safety deadline.
The strikes are successfully early non-tenders. Friday afternoon is the deadline for groups to resolve whether or not or to not tender contracts to their arbitration-eligible and pre-arb gamers. However as talked about, at this time is the deadline for including gamers to the 40-man so as to defend them from the Rule 5 draft. By reducing these two gamers now, the Sox have made area for including Grey and another person within the coming hours.
It’s not a shock that Boston isn’t bringing Lowe again. He was a midseason desperation addition. The Sox misplaced Triston Casas to damage early within the season, leaving a gap at first base. They’d been patching that over with guys like Romy González and Abraham Toro. Lowe turned accessible in August when the Nationals launched him. He has a superb total monitor file however was having a nasty season. The Sox have been capable of seize him for primarily nothing to bolster their first base group down the stretch.
The Sox additionally may have saved Lowe for 2026 by way of arbitration nevertheless it by no means appeared doubtless they might accomplish that. He certified for Tremendous Two standing going into 2023, giving him 4 arb passes as a substitute of the same old three. He had already raised his wage to $10.3MM in 2025. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projected him for a $13.5MM wage in 2026, which shall be his age-30 season. The Sox presumably had no intention of paying that after Lowe hit .228/.307/.381 for a 91 wRC+ this yr. They’ve Casas doubtlessly coming again in 2026 and so they may additionally pursue exterior additions.
Technically, Boston has a while to attempt to commerce Lowe however different groups presumably aren’t eager on him at that $13.5MM value level both. He’ll doubtless keep in DFA limbo till Friday after which be non-tendered, changing into a free agent.
As soon as he’s formally on the open market, he shall be an fascinating bounceback candidate. As talked about, his 2025 season wasn’t good, however he was a stable on a regular basis first baseman for the Rangers for a few years. From 2021 to 2024, he bought into a minimum of 140 video games in 4 straight seasons, together with a minimum of 157 within the first three. He launched between 16 and 27 dwelling runs in every of these. He additionally had a stroll fee of 12.5% or larger in three of the 4. He had a mixed .274/.359/.432 slash line and 124 wRC+ for that span. FanGraphs credited him with 10.8 wins above alternative.
That sturdy efficiency helped the Rangers win the 2023 World Collection and in addition pushed Lowe’s wage up into eight-figure territory. These elements mixed together with his down yr to make him a transparent non-tender candidate.
Primarily based on his monitor file, some membership ought to give Lowe a giant deal sooner or later, although at a lesser value level than his projected arbitration wage. He’ll leap into a primary base market that has already seen Josh Naylor come off the board. Pete Alonso, Ryan O’Hearn, Luis Arráez and others are nonetheless on the market, whereas Christian Walker and Willson Contreras are potential commerce candidates.
Winckowski, 28 in June, has spent the previous few years working in a swing position for the Sox. He has logged 242 1/3 innings over 21 begins and 100 reduction appearances, permitting 4.20 earned runs per 9. His 18.2% strikeout fee is subpar however his his 8.3% stroll fee is round common and his 51.6% floor ball fee fairly sturdy.
He solely logged 11 2/3 innings within the majors in 2025. He spent a lot of the first half on elective project within the minors. In June, the Sox known as him up and put him on the massive league 60-day injured record attributable to a a flexor pressure in his proper elbow. That allowed them to open a 40-man roster spot. Winckowski stayed on the IL for the remainder of the yr, gathering service time alongside the best way. The IL goes away 5 days after the World Collection, so he retook a 40-man spot at the moment.
His present well being standing is unknown however he was going to be on the roster bubble regardless. He exhausted his ultimate choice season in 2025. He additionally pushed his service time simply over the three-year mark, due to this fact qualifying for arbitration. He’s projected for a wage of $800K subsequent yr. That’s barely above the league minimal, which shall be $780K subsequent yr. However for a man who was harm for many of 2025 and may’t be simply despatched to the minors anymore, the Sox aren’t eager to pay him at that stage.
Whereas he’s in DFA limbo, they might attempt to commerce him elsewhere. He could be managed for one more three seasons and is comparatively low-cost. However it’s additionally attainable he will get non-tendered alongside Lowe on Friday and finally ends up a free agent.
Photographs courtesy of Nathan Ray Seebeck, Kevin Jairaj, Eric Canha, Imagn Photos
