{"id":13273,"date":"2024-12-22T16:55:09","date_gmt":"2024-12-23T00:55:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/?p=13273"},"modified":"2024-12-22T17:05:52","modified_gmt":"2024-12-23T01:05:52","slug":"rangers-trade-nathaniel-lowe-to-nationals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/2024\/12\/22\/rangers-trade-nathaniel-lowe-to-nationals\/","title":{"rendered":"Rangers Trade Nathaniel Lowe to Nationals"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Texas Rangers<\/a> made their latest move on Sunday by trading first baseman Nathaniel Lowe<\/a><\/strong> to the Washington Nationals<\/a> for\u00a0left-handed reliever Robert Garcia<\/a><\/strong>. ESPN\u2019s Jeff Passan<\/a> reported the news first. With depth at first base and other needs, the Rangers parlayed a suddenly active market at the position into addressing one existing issue, their bullpen. This opens the path for more additions in free agency. The trade, which has been officially announced by both teams, marks the second lefty off-speed savant the Rangers have added in the past several days. They agreed to terms with Hoby Milner<\/a><\/strong> on a one-year contract<\/a> earlier in the week.<\/p>\n

Heading to D.C<\/h4>\n

Nathaniel Lowe will change teams via trade for the second time in his career. Four years ago, the Rangers and the Tampa Bay Rays agreed on a six-player swap. Lowe was one of the key pieces. The Rays\u2019 first base depth had left Lowe struggling for playing time in his first two major league seasons, but he immediately found a regular job once the Rangers installed him as their everyday first baseman.<\/p>\n

Nathaniel Lowe has played in 615 of a possible 648 regular-season games in his four seasons with the Rangers. He hit .274\/.359\/.432 with 78 home runs in 2,576 plate appearances.<\/p>\n

New Options at First Base<\/h4>\n

Despite Lowe\u2019s success, there had been some rumors that the Rangers could be looking to clear some room at first base.\u00a0 The recently acquired<\/a> Jake Burger<\/a><\/strong> figures to get a good chunk of the first base at-bats with Lowe gone. Josh Smith<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Justin Foscue<\/a><\/strong>, or\u00a0Ezequiel Duran<\/a><\/strong> are also in the running for playing time. This, however, depends on how the Rangers opt to arrange their infield.\u00a0 Josh Jung<\/a><\/strong> is slated to be the regular third baseman. Burger, Smith, or Duran could also, however, play third based on matchups.<\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

Main Photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>