Nationals win arbitration case against Lowe

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Nationals learned today they won their arbitration case against first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, a source familiar with the decision confirmed.

Lowe will make $10.3 million this season, the highest salary on the team’s current 2025 roster. He was seeking $11.1 million.

Acquired from the Rangers for reliever Robert Garcia in December, Lowe had two years of arbitration eligibility remaining. When he and the club were unable to agree to terms on their own before the leaguewide Jan. 9 deadline, they were required to submit competing arbitration figures. They wound up $800,000 apart.

A hearing was scheduled for Feb. 14, the last of nine arbitration hearings across Major League Baseball this winter, but the two sides were free to continue negotiating and could have settled on a number somewhere between the two competing offers and avoided the hearing altogether.

The Nationals actually had some recent history of settling, avoiding hearings with former outfielder Victor Robles in both 2022 and 2023 after initially filing for arbitration. In this case, they weren’t able to settle with Lowe and went to the hearing.

The case was heard Friday, with representatives for both sides spending several hours making an argument for Lowe’s true worth this season. A three-judge panel was then left to rule on the case, and that group today sided with the club.

The Associated Press was first to report today’s decision.

Lowe, 29, went through the arbitration process the previous two winters with the Rangers. He made $4.05 million in 2023 as a “Super 2” player who was eligible for arbitration before reaching three years of big league service time. He then made $7.5 million last season, during which he batted .265 with a .361 on-base percentage, 16 homers, 69 RBIs and a .762 OPS.

Lowe will be eligible for arbitration again next winter before he can become a free agent following the 2026 season.

The Nationals have rarely gone to trial during Mike Rizzo’s 16-year tenure as general manager, particularly over the last decade. They won cases against relievers Sean Burnett and Brian Bruney in 2010, as well as left-hander John Lannan in 2012. They lost their case against reliever Jerry Blevins in 2015 but then defeated both outfielder Michael A. Taylor and right-hander Kyle Barraclough in 2019.

All told, the Nats are now 6-1 in arbitration cases with Rizzo as GM.

Lowe officially reported to camp this afternoon, three days before position players are required to report. He’s scheduled to speak to reporters for the first time Sunday.