March 23rd: The Reds made it official today, announcing that they have selected Lowe’s contract and placed Greene on the 60-day IL.
March 21st: Nathaniel Lowe has earned a spot on the Reds’ roster, reports C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic. The veteran first baseman signed a minor league deal with the club in mid-February. He’s set to make $1.75MM with the big-league squad, with an additional $250K available in incentives. Rosecrans notes that Lowe is expected to take the 40-man roster spot of Hunter Greene, who is headed to the 60-day IL after undergoing elbow surgery.
Cincinnati announced outfielders Rece Hinds and J.J. Bleday were optioned to Triple-A. Lowe and Dane Myers will round out the bench, along with backup catcher Jose Trevino and utilityman Spencer Steer. The Reds also sent right-hander Zach Maxwell to Triple-A. Left-hander Sam Moll has secured the final bullpen spot, per Rosecrans.
Lowe was dealt from the Rangers to the Nationals for reliever Robert Garcia last offseason. He hit just .216 in 119 games with Washington and was cut in mid-August. Lowe then latched on with the Red Sox. He recovered some value in Boston, slashing .280/.370/.420 across 119 plate appearances. The final result was still a career-worst 91 wRC+. The 30-year-old received minimal interest this winter, but a strong Spring Training will propel him to a major league gig. Lowe posted a 143 wRC+ in 15 spring games. He racked up seven extra-base hits, including three home runs.
Hinds did all he could to earn a job in the spring. He belted five home runs and drove in 11 across 43 plate appearances. The 25-year-old is known for his big power, but he also hit .410 in the limited Spring Training sample.
The Reds didn’t necessarily need to keep another first baseman, with Steer a capable backup behind Sal Stewart, but the decision came down to getting Hinds regular reps. “I was very careful with how I worded it with him,” manager Terry Francona said about breaking the news to the outfielder. “(Hinds) did enough to make the team, but the role is a bench role, and we want you to play.”
Bleday signed a one-year deal in late December. He made a strong case for a roster spot himself, launching four home runs and getting on base at a .364 clip. Bleday had seemingly emerged as a consistent contributor with the Athletics, slashing .243/.324/.437 with a career-best 20 home runs in 2024. He stumbled to a .656 OPS over the first two months of the 2025 campaign and found himself back in Triple-A. Bleday returned to the big-league club in August, but was designated for assignment at the end of the season. He and Hinds both have a minor league option remaining.
Maxwell, affectionately known as Big Sugar, will head back to the minors as the Reds opt for another lefty in the pen. The 6’6″, 275-pound righty with the triple-digit fastball delivered solid results in his first taste of the majors last year. Maxwell posted a 30.2% strikeout rate with an xFIP and SIERA just above 3.00. He punched out hitters at a 31% clip this spring, though a few shaky outings to begin Cactus League action led to a 5.40 ERA.
Moll is out of options, while Maxwell still has three left. The veteran gives the Reds another left-handed middle reliever while Caleb Ferguson is sidelined. Cincinnati also added Brock Burke in a trade this offseason. Brandon Williamson is in the pen, though he’ll be more of a long relief/piggyback starter option.
Photo courtesy of Frank Bowen IV of The Enquirer via Imagn Images
I hope Hinds gets a real look sometime soon, but they made solid choices for the bench.
Agreed. I would have preferred Hinds or Bleday to Benson though.
Yeah, best wishes to benson but he needs a change of scenery
This guy could have his best years ahead of him. Nice signing.
Lowe? He’s already well into his decline phase. They’d be better off keeping Hinds or Bleday.
Like the article said, Tito didn’t want to keep Hinds on the team in a bench role. He wants him to play. It could be the same with Bleday. They both have some talent, but both might improve a bit playing every day in AAA.
It’s just a matter of time till this guy has his own show, extremely gifted. 🤣
At least he didn’t have to go into the family’s hardware business.
Thats a lowe blowe
Hinds agent needs to try and get him somewhere else. The kid is making improvements but not getting a chance to show them.
I agree. The Reds have dropped the ball on this prospect. He has never gotten a chance and I don’t see him getting one with the guys they brought in the outfield for whatever reason.
If they brought in an impact bat, I would get it, but they brought in a similar guy as Benson in Bleday and a journeyman outfielder in Myers rather than give Hinds an opportunity.
Will be interesting to see how long a leash the Reds give Noelvi Marte in RF. If Marte struggles, Hinds should have an opportunity to replace him.
Great roster construction by Krall. Good lineup. Great rotation. Improved bullpen. Defensive upgrades and a bench with actual late inning weapons.
Agree with almost all. The only move I question is keeping Benson when they signed Bleday. Myers and Friedl handle the defense, so there was room to have another hitter on the bench.
Agreed. Give Bleday a shout over Benson.
No, Benson. He’s blasted 5 HRs, Bleday only 4. Fair’s fair, he lost. They do have similar traits.
Not sure HR’s should be the only measuring stick. Bleday had higher batting average and higher slugging %. But letter the season play out.
Solid depth as well.
How does Sal Stewart look at 3B? As good as Suarez? If they plan on giving either of them some time there, sharing with Hayes, then that gives the Lowe signing more merit.
Suarez is probably ahead of Stewart on the 3B depth chart. When Hayes isn’t in the lineup they can use Suarez at 3B, Lowe at 1B, and Stewart at DH.
Hayes is close to an auto out in the lineup.
His glove needs to be re-valued does it provide enough to win for the no bat in lineup.
I am not sure I would call Steer a bench player over Will Benson, who is in reality the other bench spot.
A bench player only because he doesn’t have a set position, he’ll still be an almost everyday player.
If I’m Hinds I’m requesting a trade or my release and if that doesn’t work I’m forcing it. Don’t tell me I earned something and not reward me for doing so.
Hinds is not the first prospect they have screwed up and probably not the last. I can think of a handful of young relief pitchers too that found success elsewhere after being finally discarded.
I remember the case of Nick Senzel, they really screwed up his carreer.
Benson, Myers and Moll may be all on very short leashes this season. Each player is set for a particular role, but it doesn’t make sense having so many role players in a roster. At the end, it’ll be the hitting what dictates who stays and who doesn’t.
From the Reds 2025 OD roster, there are 8 position players not returning: Jeimer Candelario, Blake Dunn, CES, Santiago Espinal, Jake Fraley, Jacob Hurtubise, Austin Wynn, and Gavin Lux. They are replaced by : Ke’Bryan Hayes, Dane Myers, Nathaniel Lowe, Sal Stewart, Will Benson, Noelvi Marte, Tyler Stephenson, & Eugenio Suarez. I consider that 8 upgrades.
IMVHO, Lowe should add some nice depth.
So Marte is here and Hinds not. Why even pretend there is a spring training competition?
There is no problem having Marte on the team as when he is healthy, he can hit (just avoid PEDs). The real issue is why do you have Benson who is not good defensivley on the team as a backup when you have Hinds who is better.
How the hell did luzardo get 135 total & 27/yr
And sanchez only 107 with 17/yr??
Better nickname.
Calling Steer a capable backup to Stewart at first base kind of neglects the fact that Steer was probably the second best defensive 1st basemen in the NL last season. Plus after he healed up in the second half of the season, he had power.
The writer seemed to not understand Steer’s value. His defensive versatility is a great asset and he can handle the bat. He reminds me of Ben Zobrist.
Always liked Lowe, wish the Sox kept him. Gold Glove caliber and some power from the left side. Excellent veteran presence. Tito is no idiot
He deserved a better shot than what the Sox could have given him. Lowe might have been our plan D if we failed to upgrade at first and decided Cassas wouldn’t do.
I think he’ll do great with the Reds, more like the guy he was in Boston or Texas rather than Washington.
Totally agree, I liked the pickup initially and I truly thought they would have kept him. But it’s a business. Hope he does well
Benson needs to ball out early. Hinds got hosed. Would.tske in Detroit, but we have his twin, Jahmai Jones.
Some baseball fans (not everyone) react to roster cuts like we’re talking about a 2-month high school baseball season with 20 games. Rece Hinds will play a lot of baseball for the Reds this year. No.1, because he’s good. No.2, because there are 162 freakin games.
Congrats to Lowe on making the showe. Nathaniel’s now Lowe man on the totem board.