Red Sox sign Nathaniel Lowe to 1-year contract

The Boston Red Sox have acquired some help at first base.

Nathaniel Lowe signed a one-year deal with the Red Sox on Monday following his release from the Washington Nationals last week.

Lowe is an intriguing low-risk acquisition for a Red Sox team that's been piecing things together at first base since Triston Casas suffered a season-ending knee injury in early May.

The 30-year-old, who remains arbitration eligible next season, is slashing .216/.292/.373 with 16 home runs, 17 doubles and 130 strikeouts in 119 games this season. After hitting 13 home runs across his first 82 games, he's gone deep just three times over the last 34, and posted a .480 OPS in 11 games in August prior to his release.

Lowe's done the majority of his damage against right-handed pitching this year, hitting 14 home runs to go with a .732 OPS. He'll likely platoon at first base with Romy González.

The Red Sox enter play Monday five games back in the American League East and in a tie with the Seattle Mariners for the top wild-card spot. Boston's scored the fourth-most runs in MLB this season despite ranking 20th in home runs, 22nd in OPS, and 23rd in fWAR at first base.