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Dateline: Goodyear, Arizona
Nathaniel Lowe had his physical this morning, arriving to compete for a roster spot after signing a minor league contract.
"I spoke to him and told him, he'll be treated like the veteran he deserves," Reds' manager Terry Francona said. "There are a number of guys struggling to find Major League jobs and he's one of them. I explained to him I wasn't going to guarantee anything because you can't do that. I told him I will probably under sell it. I don't feel comfortable bullshitting somebody to get him in here, then a month later it's not what I said."
"I appreciate the honesty," Lowe said. "When you're looking for a job and somewhere to be. Somebody shooting you straight is all you can ask for. When it is steaming hot in August, I don't want the bullshit. I want the truth."
Lowe, 30, had his struggles last season but is three years removed from winning the Silver Slugger award as a first baseman with the Texas Rangers. He hit .302 with 27 home runs and 76 RBI that season in 157 games. Lowe followed up with good 2023 season in which he played 161 games, hitting .262 with 17 home runs and a healthy total of 38 doubles all while earning a Gold Glove at first base.
"You've got to learn somewhere," Lowe said. "In my mind, I've never had a bad season until last year. We had a baby in the offseason. I got to spend the winter with my wife and son; get healthy again and get ready to go."
Last season Lowe's average dipped to .228. He started with the Washington Nationals, hitting .216 with 16 home runs in 119 games. He was released by the Nationals on August 16 and signed by the Boston Red Sox two days later. Lowe picked up his game in 34 games with Boston, hitting .280.
"He's been a good bat," Francona continued. "He had some downtimes last year. He's not far removed from being an All-Star. You have a non roster spot it just makes sense to bring him in."
It was a different atmosphere in Boston and Lowe took advantage.
"Jumping into that Boston club, you jump right back into that playoff contention and it makes you feel like, that's what you play for," Lowe said. "It was super cool to wear the uniform for such a historic franchise. I got to experience the Red Sox/Yankee rivalry in both Fenway and Yankee Stadium."
The free agent market is tight this winter, which is the reason, Lowe with his track record was brought in under a minor league contract when a big league contract is preferred for monetary considerations and security.
"If you look at the climate over all, there were a lot of guys in a similar position, who maybe still don't have jobs now. There are a lot of players out there that can help ball clubs win games and they just haven't gotten jobs," Lowe said. "People are looking into the future that's not really a secret. I'm happy to have a uniform now."
The contract agreement not being ideal for Lowe. He took advantage of being a father.
"There wasn't really that much anxiety," Lowe stressed. "I got to hang out with my wife and kid and work out. It is going to work the way it's supposed to."
"It is probably too early to tell how one guy hits," Francona said. "It never fails if one guy goes down every thing changes much. Let them get comfortable and see how they play and we'll put things together the best we can."
Francona did allow that there may be a need for extra game time for all of them, including Cam Collier.
"We didn't do this last year but we it wouldn't surprise me if we add a B game if we have enough pitching."
Steer will play other positions, depending how the roster situation is, according to Francona. "If we don't have a quote, unquote utility player (Santiago Espinal was in that role last season)."
"Steer could get pushed to second. McLain could be a backup shortstop," Francona said. "Right now he's going to play first, second and left. He took groundballs at second yesterday. He enjoys it. If something changes we'll adjust."
"The one thing I want to be cognitive of. Every manager wants to have the perfect roster but I'm not sure if that ever works," said Francona. "I know because I sit there at night and do we run for our catcher if something happens; if Elly (De La Cruz) is DHing when somebody gets hurt. For all the worry, you just put your best team out there, knowing sometimes you might be embarrassed. You just have to live with it."
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