The Cleveland Guardians acquired first baseman and designated hitter Nathaniel Lowe from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for pitching prospect Alejandro Rivera ahead of the trade deadline, according to club announcements. Lowe arrives after batting .266 with 12 home runs for Cincinnati, bolstering a Cleveland offense that has ranked near the bottom of the majors in runs per game.
Guardians Land Nathaniel Lowe and Foster Griffin in Deadline Splash
The Cleveland Guardians acquired first baseman Nathaniel Lowe from the Reds, according to official announcements from both clubs. Jeff Passan of ESPN first reported that Lowe was headed to Cleveland, while Zack Meisel of The Athletic first reported that 19-year-old pitching prospect Alejandro Rivera was heading to Cincinnati.
The deal was finalized on the final day of the trade deadline, arriving just minutes after the Guardians acquired All-Star left-hander Foster Griffin from the Washington Nationals in exchange for a package of four players. Together, the additions of Lowe and Griffin represent an aggressive push by Cleveland to upgrade both its lineup and its pitching staff for the stretch run.
The Guardians entered the deadline week with an offense that ranked 29th in the majors in runs per game at 3.95, while their rotation stood out as a major backbone of the team. By adding Lowe alongside outfielder Jo Adell on the same day, the club moved to address its offensive shortcomings while reinforcing an already solid group.
Lowe’s Bounce-Back Season in Cincinnati
Lowe, 31, is enjoying a strong recovery campaign after struggling through the worst year of his career. Through the end of the 2024 season, he played 686 contests for the Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers, putting up a .272/.356/.433 line and a 123 wRC+. Last year, split between the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox, his numbers dropped to a .228/.307/.381 line and a 91 wRC+.
Following that down season, the Reds scooped him up on a minor league deal that came with a modest $1.75MM salary if he made the roster. He earned an Opening Day spot and stayed with Cincinnati all year, appearing in 83 games.
Over 276 trips to the plate with the Reds, Lowe recorded 66 hits, 17 doubles, 12 home runs, 37 RBIs, and 28 walks, slashing .266/.341/.480 with an .820 OPS. His production immediately prior to the trade included a 3-for-4 performance with two doubles, two RBIs, two runs, and a walk in a 10-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Roster Crunch and Platoon Options in Cleveland
The Guardians faced a clear need for improvement in their first base and designated hitter mix. Left-handed hitter Kyle Manzardo and right-handed hitter Rhys Hoskins had been platooning at first base. Manzardo posted a .215/.306/.378 line with 13 home runs and 39 RBIs over 102 games, while Hoskins recorded a .179/.312/.383 line with 12 home runs over 86 games.
At the designated hitter spot, Chase DeLauter received steady playing time lately. The addition of Lowe gives Cleveland flexibility to rotate him between first base and designated hitter depending on matchups and lineup health. Lowe has done most of his damage against right-handed pitching this season, holding a .286/.363/.522 slash line with 12 home runs over 251 plate appearances against righties, though he faced left-handers just 25 times.
To clear room for Lowe, Cleveland needed to open a spot on its 40-man roster. Meanwhile, the Reds parted ways with a productive veteran who was set to become a free agent at the end of the season, securing a young prospect in return while opening up designated hitter at-bats for other players down the stretch.
Alejandro Rivera Heads to Cincinnati in Return
Heading to the Reds is 19-year-old right-hander Alejandro Rivera, who is listed at No. 30 on Baseball America’s top 30 list for the Guardians’ system. An international signing out of Venezuela, Rivera has posted strong results in rookie ball and recently added velocity alongside a developing slider to complement his fastball and changeup.
With only five Single-A innings under his belt, Rivera represents a long-term developmental project for Cincinnati as the last-place Reds look toward future value following a relatively quiet trade deadline.