The Boston Red Sox have officially non-tendered first baseman Nathaniel Lowe and right-hander Josh Winckowski ahead of the Major League Baseball (MLB) non-tender deadline on December 1, 2023. This decision means both players are now free agents, following a routine process that affects all teams in the league. The Red Sox tendered contracts to the remaining 26 players under team control.
Both Lowe and Winckowski had been designated for assignment earlier in the week, which allowed the club to make room on the 40-man roster for new additions. The non-tendering of these players was largely expected, particularly in Lowe’s case, who was entering his final year of arbitration. MLB Trade Rumors projected that he would earn approximately $13.5 million in the upcoming season, a figure deemed excessive given his performance.
In the 2023 season, Lowe struggled at the plate, posting a batting average of .228 with 18 home runs, 84 RBIs, and a .689 OPS across 153 games split between the Washington Nationals and the Red Sox. After a disappointing stint in Washington, he joined the Red Sox in late August and managed to contribute positively toward the end of the season, helping the team reach the postseason.
Winckowski’s situation was different, as he was expected to earn around $800,000, slightly above the MLB minimum. However, he spent significant time on the injured list last season and faced intense competition for a spot in the major leagues from younger pitchers in the Red Sox organization. Given that he was out of minor league options, his prospects with the team appeared limited regardless of the non-tender decision. Over four seasons with the Red Sox, Winckowski compiled a 4.20 ERA over 242.1 innings, with his best performance occurring in 2023 when he recorded a 2.88 ERA in 84.1 innings.
Red Sox Secure Contracts with Other Players
In addition to the non-tender decisions, the Red Sox have been proactive in securing contracts for several players ahead of the deadline. Right-hander Cooper Criswell signed a one-year deal worth $800,000, while outfielder Jarren Duran and catcher Connor Wong agreed to deals valued at $7.7 million and $1.35 million, respectively. These agreements allowed the team to avoid potentially contentious arbitration hearings.
Looking ahead, the Red Sox still have four arbitration-eligible players: right-handers Tanner Houck and Kutter Crawford, infielder Romy Gonzalez, and Triston Casas. The deadline for players and clubs to submit salary figures for arbitration is set for January 9, 2024. Furthermore, there are 22 pre-arbitration players in the organization whose contracts will also be renewed in the coming weeks, with most expected to earn close to the MLB minimum.
Currently, the Red Sox have 14 players under contract for the 2026 season, including notable names such as Roman Anthony, Brayan Bello, and Aroldis Chapman. As the offseason progresses, the team will continue to make strategic decisions to strengthen their roster for the upcoming season.
