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

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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.