Red Sox to sign Nathaniel Lowe following release from Nationals; WooSox’ Jhostynxon Garcia makes pro debut at first base; additional roster moves coming

The Red Sox are adding some pop to their lineup for their playoff run.

Boston is signing first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The Nationals recently released the 30-year-old and is on the hook for his remaining $10.3 million salary this season. The Sox will add Lowe at a prorated portion of the major league minimum. He flew to Boston on Sunday and is scheduled to undergo a physical with the Red Sox, potentially paving the way for activation as early as Monday night.

Lowe had a down year for the Nationals, following the December trade from the Rangers in the offseason. In 119 games, he hit just .216 with 16 homers and 68 RBI and owned a .665 OPS. He’s recorded a 26.5% strikeout rate and a career-low 86 wRC+ and -0.8 WAR, according to FanGraphs. The left-handed slugger has been much better against righties (.235 average, .732 OPS, 104 wRC+). When facing lefties, it’s been a different story for Lowe (.174, .516, 45 wRC+), and he would project as a platoon option alongside Romy Gonzalez, effectively pushing Abraham Toro out the door.

Lowe offers a higher ceiling than Toro, who is hitting just .199 over the last two months with a .562 OPS.

With the Red Sox front office adding Lowe to the big league roster, Alex Cora appreciated what Toro has meant to the club this season.

“He has been amazing for us,” Cora said Saturday before the Sox’ afternoon matchup with the Marlins. “Without him and without Romy in that spot, we’re not in this position. When Casas went down, we got him here, and we started producing. The numbers have cooled down, but the at-bats—yesterday, he put two good at-bats.

“Defensively, he’s done more than enough. I think we have played him more than he thought he would play. We have to make sure we take care of him. But he’s been great. He has been in this situation before with winning teams.”

A change of scenery might be what the doctor ordered for Lowe over the final six weeks of the season and ahead of a possible playoff run. He is no stranger to postseason play and was a member of the Rangers World Series team a few seasons ago.

Boston has Lowe under team control for next season, but based off his $10.3 million salary this season, it’s unlikely they’ll give him a raise and tender him in the offseason. If they decide to keep him, he could serve as protection at first base next season while Triston Casas is rehabbing from his ruptured patellar injury. 

Kristian Campbell is another option for first base next season if the club opts not to keep Lowe for 2026.

SOX ADD NATE EATON

If the Sox decide to designate Toro for assignment, the club will need to make another roster move. Boston pulled infielder Nate Eaton from the WooSox’ series finale with the Iowa Cubs on Sunday afternoon. The big league club will recall Eaton, according to Beyond the Monster's Andrew Parker.

By adding Eaton, he can offer infield versatility, including as a backup third baseman, a position Toro played opposite of first base at times this season. Initially it was reported that the Sox were adding Eaton after Wilyer Abreu was removed from Sunday’s game with the Marlins due to a tight right calf.

Abreu is hopeful he will avoid a stint on the injured list and will need a couple of games off.

The 28-year-old appeared in 14 games for the Red Sox this season, leading off four times before being sent back to Triple-A Worcester. While with the Red Sox, he’s gone 6-for-24 (.250), with two doubles, one RBI, five runs, one walk, and 10 strikeouts.

This season with the WooSox, he batted .290 with 12 homers, 25 doubles, three triples, 55 RBI, and 15 stolen bases, with an .856 OPS.

If Boston keeps Toro around a little longer as protection around Abreu’s calf issue, the Sox could designate catcher Ali Sanchez for assignment. He has been on the roster as a third catcher since being claimed off waivers from the Blue Jays. Despite Carlos Narváez's knee issue, he remained on the roster, providing the Sox with another catcher.

‘THE PASSWORD’ PLAYS FIRST BASE

Red Sox prospect Jhostynxon Garcia made his pro debut at first base for the WooSox on Sunday afternoon in the series finale with the Iowa Cubs in Des Moines.

“The Password” began working out at first base over the last couple of weeks to give him additional positional versatility. The way he’s been raking at the Triple-A level, playing first base could carve an additional path to the Sox’ roster this season. As rosters expand on September 1, he could be one of two players added once the rosters go from 26 to 28 players.

Garcia has been with the WooSox for the majority of the season. He began the year with the Sea Dogs, playing 33 games before he was promoted to Worcester. While he’s been with the WooSox, he’s batted .308 with 17 homers, 12 doubles, three triples, 56 RBI, 25 walks, and a .945 OPS. He’s played in all three outfield positions for Worcester and eight innings at first base without making an error on Sunday afternoon.

The WooSox have had a rotating door at first base this season with Nick Sogard, Nathan Hickey, Campbell, and now Garcia playing the position. Boston has been working out players at the position due to not having any true organizational depth at first base at the upper levels.

Garcia appears to be the next prospect to crack the 26-man roster. Boston has already added Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, and Campbell this season. Mayer will undergo season-ending wrist surgery but will be ready for spring training in 2026.

The longer term issue will for the Red Sox will be finding playing time for Garcia, who is a true outfielder versus first baseman. The Sox already have a glutton of outfielders on their roster with Anthony, Jarren Duran, Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela, Rob Refsnyder, and Masataka Yoshida.

Boston will need to trade someone from that group in the offseason but in the meantime, the club has tremendous internal depth to get through the next six weeks of the season and a possible playoff run.