The Washington Nationals’ decision to designate first baseman Nathaniel Lowe for assignment yesterday sent a proven hitter to the waiver wire. Lowe, 30, was acquired by Washington’s former GM Mike Rizzo last winter but he never found his groove in D.C. Now a free agent (once he clears waivers), Lowe represents an intriguing target for the New York Yankees as they are clinging onto the third and final American League Wild Card spot. Despite his 2025 struggles, Lowe’s track record, left-handed power, and solid glove could make him an excellent fit in the Bronx. Let’s analyze his recent performance and why this move might unlock his upside for a club in need of an extra boost.
Steady Track Record vs. 2025 Struggles
It’s important to distinguish Lowe’s overall track record from his recent downturn. From 2021-2024 with Texas, Lowe was remarkably consistent. He posted at least a 114 wRC+ each season and averaging .274/.359/.432 at the plate. In that span he slugged 78 homers (including a career-high 27 in 2022) and tallied 2+ WAR annually. In other words, he was a well-above-average hitter (124 wRC+) for four straight years. Lowe has the raw strength (his average exit velocity has consistently been around 90 mph+ in recent years) and a solid 9–12% walk rate in his Texas days, indicating good plate discipline.
In 119 games for Washington, Lowe hit just .216 with a .665 OPS (88 OPS+), a far cry from his ~.770 OPS career norm. His power output (16 HR, 17 doubles) was modest and his strikeout rate spiked to a career-worst 26.5%. Over his final 36 games with the Nats, Lowe slumped to an ugly .167/.271/.294 slash line, looking visibly lost at the plate. He admits to being “in his own head,” pressing as the slump deepened. It’s the definition of a rut, but also perhaps an outlier compared to his established performance level. At 30 years old, it’s unlikely Lowe simply forgot how to hit; more plausible is that a change of scenery and reset could help him regain form. His WAR sank to -0.3 in 2025, but recall that he was a 2.7 WAR player just a year ago in Texas.
An underrated aspect of Lowe’s game, and one especially relevant to the Yankees, is his defense at first. Earlier in his career, Lowe had a poor defensive reputation (he was dead last among 1B in Statcast’s Outs Above Average in 2021-22). But to his credit, he worked hard to improve, and by 2023 he had transformed into one of the better defensive first basemen in baseball. In fact, Lowe finished in the 91st percentile for OAA in 2023 (+7 Outs Above Average) essentially Gold Glove caliber glovework. Lowe’s former coaches noted that he improved by being more aggressive on grounders and working on his footwork with help from infield guru Francisco Lindor.
While his defensive metrics in 2025 have dipped again (perhaps as his hitting slump carried into the field), observers in Washington still saw him pick plenty of errant throws out of the dirt. His range is limited, he’s not as athletic as a prime Mark Teixeira, so very wide throws or sharp grounders might elude him. But in terms of the routine plays and scoops, Lowe is extremely reliable. The Yankees infield could benefit from that stability. Anthony Volpe for one, would surely appreciate a 6’4” first baseman with soft hands vacuuming up low throws. At minimum, he won’t be a downgrade defensively at first. His experience and big target could even help cut down some throwing errors. In tight postseason games, those little edges matter.
Roster Impact
One of the clearest ways the Yankees could deploy Lowe is in a platoon role. The Yankees’ primary first baseman, Paul Goldschmidt, has been merely above-average (108 OPS+) with only 10 homers to date. Goldschmidt is a right-handed hitter and, at 37, has seen a dip in his slugging (.421 SLG vs. .500+ in his prime). Lowe’s lefty power could complement Goldy rather than duplicate him. In short, there is always room for another impact bat. Goldschmidt, a right-handed hitter who crushes lefty pitching, could start at first base on days the team faces a southpaw, with Lowe on the bench. Conversely, against the many right-handed starters in the league, Lowe could start at first (or DH). This kind of 1B/DH timeshare could keep both veterans fresh and maximize their production via matchups. Beyond the strict platoon, Lowe’s addition gives manager Aaron Boone more flexibility. If Giancarlo Stanton’s injuries happen flare up or if Goldschmidt (who has dealt with a nagging knee issue) needs a IL stint, Lowe can take over first base or DH full-time for that stretch. Unlike some aging sluggers, Lowe is still relatively spry at 30 and has been durable (he played 140+ games in 2022 and 2024).
From a clubhouse perspective, all reports indicate that Nathaniel Lowe is a positive presence. By all accounts “Lowe seems like a good guy” and a solid teammate. He was part of a winning culture in Texas when he was the starting first baseman for the 2023 World Series champion Rangers. That playoff experience and ring could be invaluable in a Yankee clubhouse that is trying to get back to the postseason. Lowe knows what it’s like to be on a team that goes all the way, and he could bring some of that quiet confidence. He’s described as humble and hard-working, the type who kept his head down and improved his defense without any drama. Moreover, Lowe is hungry. As a newcomer who essentially “failed” in Washington and was cast off, he’ll be motivated to prove himself on baseball’s biggest stage in New York. Sometimes a motivated player with something to prove is exactly the spark a clubhouse needs. There’s every reason to believe Lowe would slot in seamlessly and provide a professional, veteran presence without rocking the boat. Adding Lowe should only displace players who were giving the team negligible production anyway, while the net gain in lineup length and power potential outweighs any such losses. Crucially, bringing in Lowe would not block any top prospect or long-term piece.
Conclusion: A Smart Gamble for the Yankees
No team picks up a DFA’d player in August expecting a savior, but Nathaniel Lowe is exactly the kind of low-risk, high-upside gamble the Yankees should take. His 2025 stat line might not turn heads at first glance, but the underlying profile, a 30-year-old lefty with a history of .770+ OPS, 20+ homer pop, solid OBP, and improved defense is very appealing, especially given the Yankees’ second half struggles.
By platooning him against right-handers and plugging him in at first base, New York could maximize Lowe’s strengths while minimizing his weaknesses. In effect, they’d be buying a distressed asset and hoping for a change-of-scenery bounce-back. And if it doesn’t work out? The cost is minimal, a prorated league-minimum salary for a few weeks, and you move on. But if it does work, Lowe could provide a jolt of left-handed power for the pennant race, lengthen a lineup that has been inconsistent, and even pick some throws in the field. The Yankees have seen how quickly depth gets tested, and how valuable a single hot bat can be in September/October. Nathaniel Lowe has been that hot bat before (as recently as last year in Texas). Surrounded by the protection of the Yankees’ lineup and energized by a playoff chase, there’s a real chance he rediscovers that form. For a team chasing October, Nathaniel Lowe is a gamble well worth taking, a fit in the Bronx that could pay off handsomely. The Yankees would be taking a low-risk assumption that Lowe’s true talent lies closer to that solid 2021-24 version and that his 2025 woes are a temporary dip that new coaching and environment can fix.
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