The Nationals have won their arbitration hearing with Nathaniel Lowe, the TalkNats website reports. Lowe will receive a $10.3MM salary for the 2025 season, rather than the $11.1MM salary he was hoping to land by going to a hearing.
First base was a major target area for D.C. this offseason, and the Nats addressed this need by acquiring Lowe from the Rangers for reliever Robert Garcia back in December. Lowe hit .274/.359/.432 over 2576 plate appearances (123 wRC+) in his four seasons in Texas, with a resume that includes a Silver Slugger Award in 2022, and both a Gold Glove and a World Series ring in 2023. Since the Rangers were looking to create room in their lineup and bolster their pen, the Garcia-for-Lowe trade helped both Texas and Washington check some boxes on their winter to-do lists.
Money was also a factor, as the Rangers were able to re-allocate Lowe’s projected salary towards other needs. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projected Lowe to earn $10.7MM, with that predicted salary falling right in between Lowe’s desired $11.1MM payday and the Rangers’ figure of $10.3MM.
An arbitration hearing is something of an awkward way for a player and a team to kick off a new partnership, yet even in defeat, Lowe’s $10.3MM salary is still a nice raise over the $7.5MM he earned in 2024. He’ll have another year of arbitration eligibility before becoming eligible for free agency following the 2026 season.
Lowe’s hearing officially wraps up the 2024-25 arbitration class. Of the 17 players who didn’t reach an agreement before the January 9 figure-filing deadline, nine went to hearings, with teams winning five of those nine cases.
Loweball offer worked
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Not his best work but no reason to lowethe him. Be nice. No hitting belowe the belt.
Lowe hanging fruit here. You all better come take advantage of it.
I remember one time the local game announcers mentioned Lowe prefers Nathaniel but not Nate. I only recall Rangers Hall of Fame broadcaster Eric Nadel getting the “N” word pass.
This would have been perfect move for pirates. But it’s the pirates
Great, the Nats picked up a guy to solve their problems at first base who loses an arbitration hearing over $800 K. Outstanding work. /s.
They might have been better off to give him the extra money and have a happy new player. Now they save a small amount of money and show we don’t really care about you and welcome to the team.
It’s also on the player. Lowe could have accepted the offer.
This means his salary for the upcoming season is not guaranteed. If the team wants to he can be waived with 30 days termination pay. Team wants him but he better watch out for banana peels on the floor for awhile.
Washington didn’t just win an arb hearing to release him. They would have traded Garcia elsewhere if they didn’t want Lowe. And what’s not to want?
He isn’t worth 11 million
Maybe your opinion and it might have been Texas’s but based on performance stats he seems to be. I choose not to look at saberstats but most do and by metrics he is.
That’s your opinion and most of the time I have been correct
Welcome to DC. We love you! We brought you in to provide some veteran leadership to a young aspiring group of guys.
He will hit too far down in the lineup. Don’t see how cj abrams is going to be leading off again.