Nathaniel Lowe, Welcome to Washington, D.C. : The Morning Briefing

Non-Washington Nationals News, Commanders upset Philadelphia Eagles. The Washington Commanders defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 36-33 yesterday afternoon at Northwest Stadium in Landover, MD. In a thrilling finish, the No. 2 overall pick threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to Jamison Crowder with just six seconds left, propelling Washington to their 10th win. This marks the franchise's first 10-win season in a decade. According to the Commanders, Jayden Daniels etched his name in franchise history, becoming just the second Washington quarterback to throw for five touchdowns against Philadelphia. He joined the legendary Sonny Jurgensen, who accomplished the feat in 1964. [Read more about the Commanders upset yesterday]

Good Monday Morning, Washington Nationals fans. Here is the latest news analysis and more about the Washington Nationals organization for Monday, December 22, 2024, and welcome to the Morning Briefing.

This is a special edition of the Morning Briefing, as we planned to take the remainder of 2024 off. However, we wanted to bring you the latest news and analysis on Washington trading for first baseman Nathaniel Lowe from the Texas Rangers.

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👋 Welcome to Washington, D.C. Well, the only story today is the Nationals acquiring first baseman Nathaniel Lowe from the Texas Rangers in exchange for LHP Robert Garica yesterday evening.

Lowe, 29, brings a strong offensive and defensive profile to the Nationals. In 2023, he earned a Rawlings Gold Glove Award and a Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award. He was also a key contributor to the Rangers' World Series championship run.

Lowe ranked among the American League leaders in 2024 in walks and on-base percentage. He boasts an impressive .361 OBP and a .762 OPS while demonstrating exceptional plate discipline with a 12.6% walk rate.

In 140 games with the Rangers this year, Lowe hit .265 with 16 home runs and 69 RBIs. He showcased his defensive prowess with seven Outs Above Average and a .995 fielding percentage.

Lowe is a career .272 hitter with 89 home runs and 329 RBIs across six Major League seasons. The Tampa Bay Rays originally drafted him in the 13th round of the 2016 MLB Draft.

Lowe is projected to earn $10.7 million in 2025 as he enters his second year of arbitration eligibility. This is a reasonable salary for a Gold Glove-winning first baseman with Lowe's offensive output. However, with Lowe turning 30 in July, the Texas Rangers may have been evaluating whether to extend his long-term contract, and it looks like they didn't and instead traded him away.

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Nats Report perspective: Seeking both a veteran presence and an upgrade at first base, the team achieved both in a cost-effective trade. In his prime, Lowe brings substantial offensive production, valuable leadership, and a winning track record to the clubhouse.

This move provides stability at first base for the next few seasons, eliminating the reliance on unproven prospects. The low trade cost allows the Nationals to pursue further upgrades, potentially adding a powerful bat to the lineup via free agency, especially via trades.

This was an excellent move by the front office, and hopefully, this isn't the end of the moves that the team will make but the continuation of an interesting off-season, to say the least.

MUST READ: Owen takes another look at the signing. Owen's perspective: "In a vacuum, Lowe isn't the most exciting potential bat to add to a team, but he could very well make a huge difference for the Nationals... The other good part about this acquisition? The cost! I definitely thought that acquiring an above-average hitter and defender with multiple years of team control remaining would cost more than one (1) setup man, so count me as pleasantly surprised. That the setup man was a waiver wire acquisition from the Marlins in 2023 and thus almost counts as free is even better. "

⚾ "The Man of Steal," aka Rickey Henderson, dies at 65. On Saturday, Rickey Henderson passed away at the age of 65. The former Baseball Hall of Famer stole more bases and scored more runs than any player in baseball history, with 1,406 stolen bases and recorded 2,295 runs during his historical career. Rickey Henderson, a 10-time All-Star, boasts a remarkable .401 career on-base percentage and played a crucial role in the Athletics' 1989 World Series triumph, hitting an impressive .441 postseason with 15 hits in 34 at-bats and nine walks, earning him the ALCS MVP award.

In 1990, Henderson was crowned the American League's Most Valuable Player as the A's clinched their third consecutive AL pennant. He further solidified his legacy by winning his second World Series with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1993, their second consecutive title.

Across his three World Series appearances, Henderson maintained an impressive .339 batting average with a .448 on-base percentage and a .607 slugging percentage. A seasoned postseason performer, he participated in eight postseasons for five different teams.

Henderson's accolades extend beyond the postseason. He is a three-time Silver Slugger award winner and a 1981 Rawlings Gold Glove recipient. In 1982, he set a modern-era single-season record by stealing 130 bases.

📌 What will Mike Rizzo wish for on this birthday? (TalkNats)

📌 Was Rickey Henderson Greatest MLB Player of All Time? Where Does He Rank? (Newsweek)

📌Guardians trade Naylor to Diamondbacks, sign Santana (ESPN)

📌 Phillies get Luzardo for 2 prospects in trade with Marlins (MLB)