If Jake Bauers Leaves, Brewers Should Pivot to Nathaniel Lowe at First Base

[Ray Stuedemann]

As the Milwaukee Brewers look to defend their 2026 World Series title, one of the biggest questions of the offseason will be how to address the first base position. If Jake Bauers does not return to Milwaukee, the Brewers should look outside the organization for a replacement to pair with Andrew Vaughn. One name worth considering is Nathaniel Lowe, an eight-year veteran who would be joining his seventh major-league team. With Bauers likely on the way out, Lowe could be an intriguing target for Milwaukee.

Nathaniel Lowe’s Career So Far

Lowe was drafted by the Rays in 2016, in the 13^th round. He spent two big-league seasons with Tampa Bay before being traded to Texas, where he was worth 11.5 bWAR in four seasons with the Rangers. Lowe was then traded to the Nationals after the 2024 season, where he only spent half a season before being shipped to Boston. There, he posted the worst OPS of his career (.689), which led to the 31-year-old signing with the Reds on a cheap, one-year contract. 

He was also dealt at the 2026 deadline, this time being sent to Cleveland to help with their playoff push. He fared better with the Reds, slashing .266/.341/.480, good for a 126 OPS+, compared to an 83 OPS+ and a slashline of .226/.275/.376 with the Guardians. Still, it was a return to form for Lowe, who has a career OPS+ of 115, and could find a meaningful role somewhere in what is considered a weak position-player market.

The Need For a First Baseman

The primary first baseman from 2026, Bauers leaves a gaping hole in Milwaukee’s lineup, as their leader in OPS and home runs will probably not return to the Brewers for 2027. He was offered the qualifying offer recently, but it's likely that he'll find a healthy multi-year deal preferable to the one-year, $23.15-million guarantee he'd get by accepting.

Vaughn remains under team control for another season, but he shouldn't be trusted with full-time responsibilities at first base. Despite solid numbers (.764 OPS in 198 plate appearances) against right-handed pitching in 2026, Vaughn has a career .708 OPS in those situations, which isn’t good enough for a team that needs to replace Bauers’s production. It may not even be set in stone that he'll be playing for the Brewers next season; we know how they operate with players that have one year of control remaining. 

Lowe's job would be to face right-handed pitching, and he does that well, possessing a .793 OPS in that category for his career. Presumably, he wouldn't require a long-term commitment. The Brewers have first base prospects coming up (primarily Andrew Fischer, who also swings from the left side), but while some fans may want to see Fischer up right away in 2027, that's neither likely nor advisable. Lowe would be a solid offensive first baseman and a good platoon partner with Vaughn. But how is his defense?

Bauers and Vaughn were great contributors for a World Series-winning team because of their offense, not their defense. Both players were worth -4 OAA at first base last season, and neither of them were particularly good receivers either, with Bauers ranking in the 22^nd percentile and Vaughn in the 6^th percentile in first base receiving. 

Lowe’s glove isn't Gold Glove-caliber, but his defensive ability is slightly better than both primary first basemen the Brewers rostered last season. Lowe was worth -3 OAA last season, though he was significantly better with the Guardians (2 OAA) than he was with the Reds (-5 OAA). As a receiver, Lowe is only marginally better than the other two, but he's better, ranking in the 36^th percentile.

While Lowe may not be a significant upgrade defensively, his offensive production makes for an appealing fit for Milwaukee. Pairing him with Vaughn would give the Brewers a relatively reliable platoon at first base. His fit may not be perfect, but he checks a few boxes the team could be looking to fill if Bauers doesn't return.

Be Patient for Fischer

Like the Luis Rengifo contract given out last season, a deal given to Nathaniel Lowe would be a low-cost, low-risk move for the Brewers. If Lowe produces, great. If not, the team can cut bait and move on to other options, as they did with Rengifo. Milwaukee knew Cooper Pratt was right on the cusp of becoming a major leaguer, and if they feel the same way about Fischer (or Blake Burke, or Luke Adams), Lowe certainly fits the bill as a player who can fill the gap for a short period of time.

Ultimately, Lowe represents the type of move the Brewers have made a habit of making: bringing in experienced veterans on short-term deals without sacrificing future flexibility. Milwaukee doesn't need to find its long-term answer at first this offseason, but rather, someone who can provide big-league at-bats until Fischer, Burke or Adams is ready. If Bauers signs elsewhere, Lowe would be a sensible addition to keep the position afloat without taking playing time away from the organization’s future.

Image courtesy of David Richard-Imagn Images

View full article

[Mr Southpaw]

Sounds like a good short term plan.

[igor67]

We have a lot of guys who need opportunity, so I'm not super sold on any veteran signing. Adams, Fischer, Burke are all good bets to be ready for MLB ABs sometime this season or even to start. Plus guys who area stretch for one reason or another Adamczewski, Boeve, Wilken. Find other ways to spend the money.

[long ball]

There really aren’t a lot of good options on the free agent market after Bauers and Ty France. A report over the weekend indicated France could sign before the lockout and if he does, that probably means it won’t be with the Brewers. He’d be nice because he is a better defender than Bauers/Vaughn, you don’t need to platoon him, and he’s likely going to be cheaper than Bauers. Downside, he probably still requires a multi year deal and I don’t think the Brewers would do that. 
 

so that moves us to Lowe. He’s a better option than Josh Bell or Dominic Smith, but if that’s the route… I hope one of our first base prospects is ready to help the brewers at some point in 2027. 

[wallus]

If Bauers leaves, Vaughn and Adams are the best options.

[gregmag]

This is a classic “go get somebody for the sake of going and getting somebody” argument. It emphasizes only the case against Vaughn while ignoring the case for him (improved across the board since joining the Brewers, a year removed from the hamate injury, affordable if Bauers leaves). It all but ignores Burke and Adams, and comparing them to Pratt a year ago ignores how much more advanced they are than he was. The Brewers at 1b have a capable veteran and three strong prospects in the upper minors. They don’t need to just go get somebody. 

[Brian]

I would stay within our own system, Blake Burk is better than most of these washed up old codgers on this free agent list and Ty France would cost an arm and a leg. 

FIRST BASEMEN

Ty France (32 years old, 4.5 WAR)
Jake Bauers (31, 4.4)^
Paul Goldschmidt (39, 2.3)
Rhys Hoskins (34, 0.5)
Nathaniel Lowe (31, 0.1)
Rowdy Tellez (32, 0.1)
Dominic Smith (32, -0.1)
Carlos Santana (41, -0.2)
Ryan Mountcastle (30, -0.3)

[Trax]

Agree with majority of commentors.  Absolutely NO need to go outside the org. 

IF Bauers leaves, which is likely, we return Vaughn and have one of Adams, Burke and Fishcer.

That choice at least t o start with would be Burke.  Whoever it is would have to earn it spring training.  More than likely we'd let Vaughn start the season playing every game until one of them emerges from the farm club early in the year to platoon with.  

That being said for the right return Vaughn could get moved too.  Then it's a different conversation. 

[Devinep]

I’d rather just go with Vaughn if Burke/Fischer/Adams aren’t ready right away.  Because they will be ready sometime in 2027.

The issue with Lowe is he is another 1B only. I wouldn’t want to clog 1B completely with those prospects so close. At least Bauers can play some OF. Maybe Whichever of Stowers/Conine Miami might be willing to trade from their 1B surplus would make sense since they can also play OF