There is a moment every season when hope turns into force—and for the Red Sox, that moment could have already arrived. What began as a tough-luck injury has now taken the shape of a positional crisis, with lineup patches doing little more than buying time.

The internal shuffle has not provided much upside. At the same period, the fans know it. So do competitors, who have begun to float ideas that once felt far-fetched. It is early, sure—however, the wheels of trade speculation are turning fast because one star from the NL suddenly became more than just a placeholder.

So what is really going on there? The Red Sox, still managing without Triston Casas, have thrown a handful of scouts at first base—none sticking. Abraham Toro has been serviceable at times, and Nick Sogard has not lit up the stat sheet. Romy González is now on the shelf too. The team is trying to stay afloat in a brutal AL East, however, there is no solid bat at first. The next pick?

Nationals Nathaniel Lowe is beginning to look like more than just a distant thought. He was once an elite force in the Rangers. However, with the Nats slipping further from contention, the star’s name has resurfaced in the rumor mill. As FanSided’s Zachary Rotman floated currently: “the Red Sox could acquire Washington Nationals first baseman Nathaniel Lowe… to become their starter for the rest of the season”. And honestly? That tracks. Time to talk numbers.

Lowe’s batting average this season sits at a modest .226, with 7 homers through 168 at-bats. It is not elite for the Red Sox. However, it is better than the rotating cast that the team is trotted out. More necessarily, Nathaniel Lowe has a consistent power profile that fits the Red Sox’s offensive philosophy. He has hit more than 16 home runs every season since 2021. The star also has posted a walk rate of 12.6 percent in 2024—proof that Lowe can grind out at-bats and keep pitchers honest.

There is also the money angle. He is earning $10.3 million this season, which is manageable for the Red Sox. Specifically, if the team sees him as a stopgap and a star beyond 2025. While he has already transformed jerseys once this year, the Nationals’ selling status makes a second move plausible. The Red Sox will not need to wait till the deadline either—each game lost in this division digs the gap deeper 

What are the chances of a Triston Casas comeback?

The Red Sox are not expecting Triston Casas to walk back into the team anytime soon. After rupturing his left patellar tendon, the star underwent surgery and is currently facing a lengthy rehab that will stretch into next year. Alex Cora, with an optimistic thought, said, “from everything I am hearing, there is a chance, but not 100 percent”. That is as murky as it sounds. At best, the star is targeting a return.

This is not Casas’ first rehab rodeo either. Just last year, Casas missed four months with torn rib cartilage. It highlights that he is no stranger to setbacks—and comebacks. Cora said he thinks Casas to “kill the rehab”, highlighting the first baseman’s dedication and work ethic. That matters. However, if he hits every benchmark along the way, tendon injuries take time. The team will likely be without Casas not only for the remainder of 2025 but possibly into the opening months of next season, too. That is the truth that the team is staring down.

Until he is ready to go—and truly game-ready, the team has a gap at first base which can not be patched up with hope. The Red Sox could believe in Casas long-period, however, in the short term? The team needs more than belief. They need insurance. With no ensure Casas will be ready by next April, that is where other options like Nathaniel Lowe suddenly carry more weight.

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