In a somewhat surprising move, the Washington Nationals have DFA’d starting first baseman Nathaniel Lowe to make room for the returning Dylan Crews. This marks the end for Lowe’s disappointing tenure in DC.
Lowe came in with high hopes. The Nats traded for the veteran first baseman hoping he could be a stabilizing force in the lineup. After all, Lowe had been one of the most consistent players in baseball during his time in Texas. He put up at least 2 WAR and a wRC+ at least 14% better than league
average in each of his four seasons in Texas.
However, his numbers have taken a nose dive and he has regressed on both sides of the ball. While his 16 homers and 68 RBI’s are solid, the rest of his game has fallen off a cliff. His average, OPS, OBP and slugging percentage are all at career lows.
This move came a day after Lowe hit his first career grand slam. Baseball can be a cruel world but at the end of the day, you need to produce. With Lowe set to make more than his $10.3 million in arbitration, a non-tender was inevitable at the end of the season.
Over these last couple months, Lowe has looked quite discouraged and out of it. His defense at first base has suffered and he has not brought the type of energy to the park that this young Nats team needs.
With Lowe out of the picture, Josh Bell is likely to take on the majority of the reps at first base. The DH spot will now be a revolving door. With five outfielders now fighting for three spots, the Nats will use that DH spot to get their young outfielders in the lineup.
This Lowe move also means Dylan Crews will be back from the 60-day IL. These next six weeks are massive for Crews. A hot run to end the season will really cement Crews’ spot moving forward with the fans. The former number 2 pick has had a slow start to his MLB career, but was heating up before his injury.
Mike DeBartolo is showing he is committed to letting the kids play by making this move. He wants to focus on 2026 and see what these young guys can do. Lowe was a sunk cost and DeBartolo knew it. This is a smart and forward thinking move for the Washington Nationals.
