Nathaniel Lowe was designated for assignment by Washington to clear room for Dylan Crews, a trade deadline drama that reshapes two rosters. Lowe slashed .216/.292/.373 with a career-worst -0.7 WAR and subpar defense at first, triggering the Nationals to DFA him to make space for Crews after his 60-day IL stint. Texas moved on earlier, shipping Lowe to shed salary and partly finance Joc Pederson’s two-year, $37 million deal, and replacing him with Jake Burger in a cost-controlled first-base plan.

Texas’ gains center on Burger’s value versus Lowe’s, at a fraction of the cost, even as Burger carries injury questions. Robert Garcia’s rise as a late-season high-leverage option and Pederson’s bat in the DH/OF mix underscore Texas’ push for offense, while Crews’ return from the injured list adds high-upside depth for Washington. The saga also features Lowe’s potential waiver outcomes and the Mariners/Diamondbacks backdrop as a reminder that one DFA can ripple across a pennant race landscape.