A former Texas Rangers World Series champion is now on the market, just as the team fights to keep its playoff hopes alive.
After a disappointing 2024, when they missed the postseason and couldn’t defend their championship, the Rangers look to be heading down a similar path this year.
As of Thursday, Texas sits at .500, 7.5 games behind the AL West leaders and 3.5 games out of the final Wild Card spot.
The Rangers have been one of Major League Baseball’s biggest underperformers relative to expectations entering the 2025 season.
In dire need of a boost to their lineup, they now have a chance to reunite with a former Silver Slugger and World Series champion: Nathaniel Lowe, who was recently designated for assignment by the Washington Nationals.
Nathaniel Lowe Now Available
The Nationals designated Nathaniel Lowe for assignment following the activation of outfielder Dylan Crews—a move made even more puzzling given Washington now carries five outfielders on its MLB roster.
Lowe was traded to Washington by the Rangers this past winter in exchange for reliever Robert Garcia. At the time, Texas had acquired Jake Burger and signed Joc Pederson, making Lowe expendable and allowing the team to strengthen its bullpen after losing several pitchers to free agency.
By most accounts, the Rangers came out ahead in that trade. While Garcia has had some rough outings recently—allowing five earned runs on 10 hits over his last seven appearances—his season ERA sits at 3.33, a clear improvement over his performance with Washington.
Lowe, meanwhile, struggled in D.C. After never posting an OPS+ below the league average of 100 in his career, he recorded an 88 this season before being DFA’d, hitting just .216/.292/.373.
Could Rangers Reunite With Lowe?
If the Rangers hope to bring back their former power-hitting first baseman, they would need to make a waiver claim, as players on 40-man rosters cannot be traded after the deadline.
That move would likely mean parting ways with Joc Pederson. The slugging outfielder has struggled mightily this season, despite signing a two-year, $37 million deal this past winter, posting a .150/.280/.275 line with just four home runs and nine RBI.
Unless Texas is willing to absorb that contract—which all signs indicate they aren’t—it seems improbable that Lowe will return for a reunion.
