Red Sox DFA Lowe, Winckowski in flurry of roster moves

BOSTON -- It is the start of roster maneuvering season in MLB, and the Red Sox got the process going by designating veteran first baseman Nathaniel Lowe and right-hander Josh Winckowski for assignment on Tuesday, hours before the deadline for teams to finalize their 40-man rosters in preparation for next month’s Rule 5 Draft.

The transaction to take Lowe off the roster was made at the same time the Sox made a minor swap with the Rays, sending righty reliever Luis Guerrero to Tampa Bay for utility infielder Tristan Gray. Boston had designated Guerrero for assignment on Nov. 6, and needed Lowe’s roster spot to add Gray.

The Sox also completed three other trades, sending lefty Brennan Bernardino to the Rockies in exchange for Minor League outfielder Braiden Ward, dealing left-hander Chris Murphy to the White Sox for Minor League catcher Ronny Hernandez and shipping Minor League right-hander Alex Hope to the Mariners for Minor League catcher Luke Heyman.

In addition to those moves, left-handed pitcher Shane Drohan and right-handed pitchers David Sandlin and Tyler Uberstine were added to the Major League roster from Triple-A Worcester.

MLB’s non-tender deadline is on Friday, and Lowe was Boston’s top candidate to be non-tendered, but the team needed his roster spot sooner.

Lowe served a short-term purpose for the Red Sox down the stretch in 2025 when the team signed him after he was released by the Nationals.

First base had been a big void for Boston after Triston Casas suffered a left patellar tendon rupture on May 2 that kept him out for the rest of the season.

In 34 games for the Red Sox, Lowe slashed .280/.370/.420 in 100 at-bats, adding six doubles, a triple, two homers and 16 RBIs.

With Casas expected back in 2026 and the Red Sox perhaps going after additional power bats who can DH or play first base, Lowe didn’t have a fit on the club anymore.

The 29-year-old Gray, a left-handed hitter, played in 30 games for the Rays in ‘25, hitting .231 with five doubles, three homers and nine RBIs. He split time between second base, shortstop, third base and first base. A 13th-round pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, the Texas native has played in 47 career Major League games with the Rays (2023, ‘25), Marlins (2024), and Athletics (2024).

Guerrero had been with Boston since he was selected in the 17th round of the 2021 Draft. He broke into the Majors down the stretch in ‘24 and didn’t allow an earned run in nine outings after his September callup.

But the hard-thrower struggled to maintain the same type of consistency in ‘25, notching a 4.15 ERA in 13 games and missing a large chunk of the season with right elbow issues.

Murphy, who didn't play in 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery, didn't pitch until June 28 this past season. In 23 games, he posted a 3.12 ERA, notched 30 strikeouts and walked 20 over 34 2/3 innings.

Hernandez, 21, has spent the past two seasons with Single-A Kannapolis. Over that time, he has posted a .262/.367/.331 slash line, with 28 doubles, one triple, five homers and 80 RBIs in 176 games.

Winckowski pitched in six games for the Red Sox in 2025, posting a 3.86 ERA. The 27-year-old also recorded a 2.21 ERA with 18 strikeouts in five games (three starts) for Worcester. He was placed on the 60-day injured List on June 7 with a right elbow flexor strain and missed the remainder of the season.

Ward, 26, split 2025 between Double-A Hartford (53 games) and Triple-A Albuquerque (44 games), batting .290 with 74 runs scored, 57 stolen bases and a .395 on-base percentage. In his first career Triple-A experience, the left-handed hitter batted .331 with 45 runs scored, 35 stolen bases, a .440 on-base percentage and a .906 OPS.

Bernardino recorded a 3.14 ERA in 55 games (three starts) for Boston in 2025. The 33-year-old also posted a 2.25 ERA in four games for Worcester.

Heyman, 22, was drafted by the Mariners in the 14th round of the 2025 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Florida. He has yet to make his professional debut.

Hoppe finished the 2025 season with the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox after also spending part of the season with Double-A Portland. In 37 appearances with Worcester, the 26-year-old went 0-2 with a 4.76 ERA with 24 walks and 56 strikeouts. Across 44 Minor League appearances in 2025, Hoppe was 1-3 with a 4.55 ERA with 34 walks and 73 strikeouts.

Drohan went 5-2 with a 3.00 ERA with 77 strikeouts, and a .202 opponents' batting average between High-A Greenville (three starts) and Worcester (12 games, 11 starts). The 26-year-old ranked third among 2025 Red Sox Minor League pitchers (min. 50.0 IP) in strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched (12.83).

Sandlin posted a 4.50 ERA, 107 strikeouts and 40 walks between Double-A Portland (17 games, 13 starts) and Worcester (15 games, one start). Ranked as the club's No. 10 prospect by MLB Pipeline, the 24-year-old was twice named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week in 2025 (May 26-June 1 and June 16-22).

Uberstine, 26, pitched in 25 games (21 starts) during 2025, recording a 3.58 ERA with 137 strikeouts between Double-A Portland (six starts) and Worcester (19 games, 15 starts). In his final 3 starts of the season, dating back to Sept. 5, the right-hander went 3-0 with a 1.13 ERA and 20 strikeouts