When the Nationals needed to clear a roster for Dylan Crews’ return from the 60-day injured list last week, they chose to designate starting first baseman Nathaniel Lowe for assignment and keep seldom-used infielder Jose Tena.
Now, after a four-game split with the Phillies, the Nats have sent Tena down in favor of another first baseman.
The club announced following Sunday’s wild 11-9 loss it had optioned Tena to Triple-A Rochester. No corresponding move was announced, but a source familiar with the decision confirmed the plan to promote Andres Chaparro, which was first reported by Rochester journalist Dan Glickman.
This set of transactions underscores several points: 1) Tena really wasn’t likely to get much playing time, even though he did start a couple of games over the weekend, 2) Chaparro provides a needed right-handed bat to a lineup that has been too lefty-heavy and 3) The Nationals dropped Lowe not because they needed to, but because they wanted to.
Regarding that final point, the decision to designate Lowe caught many by surprise, given his status as one of the team’s only experienced position players and the fact his $10.3 million salary was tops on the roster this year. But it had become clear over the last month-plus that Lowe simply wasn’t producing enough, and that his continued presence didn’t match up with the organization’s intended plan in both the short- and long-term.
Lowe’s offensive numbers (.216 batting average, .292 on-base percentage, .665 OPS) were well below his career marks prior to this season (.272, .356, .789). But his struggles in the field (minus-5 Defensive Runs Saved) were really disappointing, given his reputation as a Gold Glove Award winner as recently as 2023. He also rated poorly on the bases, his baserunning value falling in the second percentile of all major leaguers after residing in the middle of the pack last year with the Rangers.
Former general manager Mike Rizzo acquired Lowe from Texas in exchange for reliever Robert Garcia last winter with the intention of keeping him for two full seasons. But it became obvious the club was going to non-tender him this winter, not believing he would be worth the $13 million or so he figured to get via arbitration. So interim GM Mike DeBartolo decided to just cut ties now, move Josh Bell to first base and open the DH slot to his large group of young outfielders who are fighting each other for playing time.
It's telling, though, that the Nationals have decided to keep both Bell and Paul DeJong, two veterans on expiring contracts who don’t figure into the long term plan. Both have performed well in recent weeks, to be sure. But beyond that, both are seen as valuable members of the clubhouse who set a good example for a room full of players far younger and less experienced. Lowe didn’t seem to fall into that same category in club officials’ minds.
The Red Sox, though, are willing to take a shot on the 30-year-old, the two sides finalizing a deal late Sunday night after he officially cleared unconditional release waivers, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
It’s a low-risk move for Boston, which should only be responsible for a prorated portion of the major league minimum salary, which works out to a little less than $200,000 at this late stage of the season. The Nationals will remain on the hook for the rest of his $10.3 million salary.
In the meantime, the Nats are now bringing in another option to play first base alongside Bell. Chaparro had a brief stint here earlier this summer and rarely played (four games in three weeks on the roster in June), but he owns a .953 OPS in 47 games with Rochester this year and provides a right-handed power bat to a team lacking in that department.
The fact the Nationals are scheduled to face two left-handers in their upcoming series against the Mets (David Peterson on Tuesday, Sean Manaea on Thursday) should offer an opportunity for interim manager Miguel Cairo to put Chaparro in his lineup.