Lowe Rejected Offer, Wants $16MM Per Year

he wont be getting 16 a yr. just because braves pick up a legit pitcher wont make them competitors and the phillies wont offer that much. i say the only competition are the sox which i wouldnt mind if they picked up

Lowe will get atleast 14 mil minimum. I don't know if he'll get the 16 mil he desires but he surely won't sign for the 12 mil, it's low balling for such a pitcher.

i think the mystery team could suprisingly be the cardinals. they need serious pitching and lowe could be a good fit in st. louis. the mets arent going to get them. i think in the end lowe could end up being a redsox uniform again

One of the MLB Network guys suggested it might be the Brewers who are the mystery team. There is also a good chance that the mystery team doesn't actually exist and it's just Boras playing his games again.

I think the "mystery team" is either the (shudder)Angels or Cardinals.

Both teams need starting pitching, and have money to spend. Lowe would thrive with the Angels' infield defense.

Brewers also makes sense. Have money to spend and are willing to throw big bucks at a good pitcher (100MM offer to CC).

I think the brewers would only go at max $15 mil per year

The "mystery team" is probably non-existent.
It's Boras.
They're ALWAYS a "mystery team."

Couldn't agree more. Guarantee a mystery team does not sign him.

John Primus -

What are you talking about the Met's funds are low? where did you get that from? Reports and calculations tell me they are still 20+ mil under last years pay roll. Just because they offered 12 per first doesn't mean they won't pay more. That is how negotiations work.

As much as I would love to see the Braves get Lowe, I don't think it'll happen.

They've stated that they're not interested in him and have too many young pitchers in their system to devote 3 or 4 years to a 36 year old.

I think Lowe is going to end up taking less that what he wants, but I hope it's not with the Mets.

Perez is also a Boras client. He won't sign cheap.

And yea it's getting annoying that fans of the other teams who are linked to Lowe think that because the Mets 3/$36M offer was rejected that Lowe will sign with anyone who bids higher. Especially if it's the Braves or Phillies who put in a higher bid, the Mets are going to match, if not exceed it.

Clint - It's been said by David O'Brien (Brave's beat writer) that the primary reason the Braves hadn't expressed interest in Lowe was that they wanted to have their pitching situation secured by the winter meetings at the latest, that they knew (correctly) that Lowe wouldn't be signed until January.

As everyone knows the Braves were unable to secure Peavy, Burnett, and talks for pitchers such as Mahlom, Greinke and Oswalt never left the station.

The Braves want a veteran pitcher to put at the top of their rotation, and Lowe fits the bill. With the way things have gone for the Braves this offseason I'm not optimistic, but we shall see.

This is Boras talking. Mystery Team = No one at all...or the Yankees

*manny

I honestly don't care where lowe ends up. He wasn't the greatest when he was with the dodgers. Not to say that he was bad...he just wasn't that great. The only real good thing about him is that he's able to stay healthy.

the mets wont let anyone else out bid them unless they can sign perez for less than 10 a yr and pedro for 1yr at 2mil

I think the mets should resign perez or try to get lowe and sign either garland for less than what he is asking or randy wolf. Their rotation is already really goo with maine, pelfrey, santana. They need more of the back-end starters. Also their problem last year was with their bullpen which they have addressed drastically

Clint C - In a world were the Braves offer A.J. Burnett 5/$80MM, anything is possible.

I think the Braves would probably throw in the towel for Lowe around 4/$56MM, but I have no reason to think that other than a wild guess. If they thought Lowe would put them over the top then I could see them going as far as $16MM/year. Maybe if the acquire an actual outfielder they'll be in position to overpay for pitching.

I don't really care where Lowe signs. But if he doesn't sign with the Mets because Omar wanted to low ball him, how funny would that be?

I still think he signs with the Dodgers for 3 years $42 mil.

so cause perez has potential, boras can get him a 10+ mill dollar a yr contract. talk about the ultimate bs

If you look at his stats,age and market, he should be making around 8 or 9 mil. Boras will hold off on him for someone who needs him bad and cant afford to lose him. They will give him 10 mil or more.

as a braves fan im still highly skeptical about signing a 36 year old lowe. look what happened when we signed mr. durable last year (glavine).

I agree. Lowe is getting older and that increases the chance of injury but next years free agent class has nothing. So you are really playing for the next two years. I think they need to get him at 3/45 with a 4th yr option

just my two cents, but other posters have been saying brewers, cubs, braves, et al, but does anyone else see a possible fit in baltimore? with them going after teix shows they have the money to do things, help mentor the 13 rookie pitchers on the team (information yahoo baltimore orioles page), sure he'd just be a stopgap solution for the time being and he probably wants a ring but they could be the mystery team. another team i see being a mystery team no one brings up, the minnesota twins. they've been in rumors (albeit not lately) to trade for adrian beltre, and aquiring lowe would help that because he'd give the rotation enough depth to be able to trade away a starter.

Clint C,

From all I've read, Smoltz won't pitch (at least in a game) until May or June.

Lowe's a lot more likely to make 30-35 starts than Smoltz is in 2009. He's probably more likely to make 30+ starts over each of the next three years than Burnett, if you ask me.

If he'd sign with the Braves for 3/$48, or if he'd do that plus demand an 4th year option based on number of starts, I'd ask Boras how soon can we make it happen.

Mystery team is officially the most annoying term of the offseason.

I might be mistaken, but this is the first time someone has actually come out and said the Braves are competing for Lowe. Good news, IMO.

I agree. I think if Wren said 3/48 with 4th yr option, then Lowe should take it if the market has been this slow so far. I think if the braves sign lowe, smotlz comes back in good form and maybe offer glavine a low contract for his love of the game, and sign a power hitter, the braves can compete. Granted thats asking alot

Xx whatever your handle is,

Do you have any idea what you're talking about?

Do you even follow baseball?

If the Braves were willing to go so hard after Burnett, I dont get why they wouldnt go hard for 3 years after Lowe. Lowe will be much better over Burnett over the next 3 years all day. We signed Smoltz when he was 36 toa 4 year deal I believe and he wasnt had a couple arm issues over the years. Lowe has been very durable and very good.

dont see the bosox going after him but if they do id be alot more content with lowe then penny.

Not at 36 years old.

He shouldn't be getting more than a 2 year contract to be anything more than a #3 starter.

15+ wins 3 out of the past 7 years does not make you a top of the rotation pitcher. It makes you an innings eater that keeps your team in the game and that is exactly what a #3 starter does.

2 years $20 million at the most!

Oh yeah, I forgot Scott Boras is lurking and everyone is going to bow down and be his whore once again! LOL

In todays game there are a handful of #1's and a butt load of #3's...Lowe is about as close as you can get to a true #2. With #3 starters getting 12mil+ Lowe will command some where close to 15mil IMO. Do I agree, no, but thats just the way it is...

16MM He has quite the high opinion of himself. All he really is is a innings eater...other than that what makes him worth 16MM...Nothing in his history makes him worth that kind of cash.

I hope the Braves do not pay $16 mil a season for Lowe. He's simply not worth it. I'd rather rely on Smoltz coming back. He's ahead of his rehab schedule by the way.

Just another greedy bastard who isnt worth 16 million a year. No one sign Lowe and let him sit at home during the 2009 season. F--- him, greedy baseball players make me sick

dodgersbruin,

God, I hope you are right! you know, this does make sense. Boras has an ulterior motive in regard to the restructuring of Jones' contract. It may just be that the Dodgers are willing to offer Lowe a contract that he would be willing to accept (I know he wanted to go to a team with better offensive numbers, but with manny and the improved offense Lowe may have changed his mind). Then the Mets are almost sure to re-sign Perez. It makes alot of sense for everyone involved. Besides, I would rather have Lowe than any other pitcher out there (even more than Burnett). That would be great.

In regard to this "Lowe-bashing" he is a solid #2 starter and a great presence in the clubhouse. Not to mention a monster down the stretch and in the postseason. Sure he is on the wrong side of 30, but he has never been a power pitcher and could easily pitch into his forties (like Maddux). He has always pitched to contact and had great control. Also, he has never been hurt. I don't know what else you could ask for, those of you bashing him are not offering any explanations just that "he's a 4th or 5th starter" or "he's too old." If these are your arguments you obviously know nothing about Lowe or what constitutes a valuable, consistent, or successful pitcher.

Lowe is a young 36 and has a good 3 or 4 years left in him before he starts to decline. would be a great pick up for the braves even if it cost them like 3/45 with a 4th year option.

mvp-
i completely agree with u about the whole wins thing.

as a mets fan i would rather have lowe than perez but xxryanrufusxx makes a point. i too think he doesnt deserve more than a 2 year deal but i do tihnk he is better than a #3 started (except on the yankees rotation).

pretty much in my fantasy world, i would want the mets to sign lowe, bartolo colon, and manny. but we simply dont have the money. i dont understand why the mets want to keep their payroll the same as it was lastyear. if you have the moeny to buy division-changing players (manny) then why not use it? yes i understand manny is a horrible fielder and just person in general but he guarantees at least 20 homers with at least 85 rbis. if they cant get manny i honestly wouldnt mind adnruw jones. its hard for him to do any worse than he did last year so hes most likely gonna somewhat bounce back and he can be used as a defensive replacement late in games just as endy chavez was.

well looks like the mets arnt going to get lowe or manny but whatever

Thats because up until smoltz got injured last year he was pitching like an ace. up until his last start when he was truly in pain he had an era of .78

sounds like an ace to me especially when the game before that he went 7 innings giving up one run and one hit while striking out ten.

go look up his games from last year and you will understand

But drumzalicious,

Only one pitcher in major league history has recovered -- as in pitched again as a starter -- from the sort of shoulder surgery Smoltz had done.

I don't question his competitiveness or his desire but his physical capacity to pitch.

Sure, his rehab is ahead of schedule. He has shown he can throw a baseball from a mound. On one occasion. That doesn't mean he can throw 120 pitches pain-free every five days for six months.

If the Phillies sign Lowe, you can start carving the Phillies name into the World Series trophy for 2009, as well.

I agree with most of you. Lowe is not worth that much money. I would give him something like a 3yr/30 mill contract with a forth year and extra money built in with incentive clauses due to his performance and stats.

How does that sound?

I'll add an option year to my original offer of 2 years, $20 million to match 3 years, $30 million lol.

How does that sound?

I think that the angels are the mystery team. We need a fifth starter and lowe would fit perfect. But I do not think he deserves 16 mil per year that's just ridiculous. I think his price will drop, but who knows with scott boras running the show.

Not to bud into this one but if I were the Braves I would just make John Smoltz my closer again and take my chances with the rotation at hand. Its not like they are expecting to contend, but stranger things have happened especially in recent years. I'd leave the Smoltz question mark to the closer role where you he won't have to throw as many pitches.

Posted by: XxRyana.k.a.RufusxX | January 04, 2009 at 12:01 AM

Its not like they're expecting to contend? Yeah thats why we've gone after 2 top free agents and tried to trade for peavy. Just last year they were a popular pick to win the division but were decimated by injuries. While no sensible, realistic braves fan is expecting anything better than a 3rd place finish in the east I wouldn't say its impossible for us to contend. If we can add a bat for LF and Lowe or a guy like Greinke we could be there til the end. Just saying that I wouldn't be talking about contenders and non-contenders when only a few top free agents have signed.
As for Smoltz being a closer, i completely disagree. Closers can be up and down throughout a game depending on what happens in the field of play throwing a ton of warm up pitches, just look at what happened to lidge in the all star game. Also he wont be able to pitch 2 days in a row most likely. And a layoff can affect him greatly. As a closer there are many variables to overcome as to how many pitches you'll throw and how often you will pitch. As a starter his number of warm up pitches and pitch count can be set and then he knows he has 5 days until he gets the ball again. Ink-stained scribe, its doubtful that he'll pitch a full season and he certainly wont be asked to throw 120 pitches per game

Yea the free agent market is terrible this year. But it hasn't been a bad market for the yankees! I still see them as the favorites for manny as well! Sad. Well Lowe is a solid pitcher i'd love to see him come to the Angels because I'm iffy on Moseley and Adenhart I haven't seen enough of...

Perhaps I could have been a less condescending about the Braves...

But perhaps you misread me, because I did say that stranger things have happened, especially in recent years.

But on paper, the Braves need a LF, a CF, a 2B, 2 more bench players, and 3 more starting pitchers. Their bullpen is fine.

I've seen teams go out and get players without expecting to contend only because they were building around that player. Like when the Orioles acquired Rafael Palmeiro, or when the A's got Matt Holliday. Oakland barely has a leg to stand on.

But the Braves have as good a chance as any if the Phillies don't repeat their success, as I've already picked them to win the NL East again in 2009.

CF- Jordan Schafer or Josh Anderson
Schafer is the top prospect who at some point next year will get the job but anderson the speedster might start the year there.
LF-FA or trade
2B-already have one of the better ones in kelly johnson
Bench is strong with Martin Prado, Ross at backup C, Norton, Infante, anderson/gregor blanco, and possibly matt diaz
SP-1. ? Derek Lowe?
2. Javy Vasquez
3. Jair Jurrjens
4 and 5- two of charlie morton/jojo reyes/james parr/john smoltz/tommy hanson

I predicted the Mariners would do no better than 82-80 in 2008 because they were banking on Felix Hernandez and Bedard to be their aces when neither has proven they are worthy. If they had a Roy Halladay (yeah right) or a John Lackey (dream on) then I would have said, "yeah, why not?" They still had a soldi 5, but a solid 5 that was shaky at best.

Few would agree with me lol.

Posted by: XxRyana.k.a.RufusxX | January 04, 2009 at 12:58 AM

PECOTA predicted the 2008 Mariners would go 73-89. Most intelligent fans thought this prediction seemed reasonable. The 2007 Mariners scored 794 runs and allowed 813 runs, a pythag record of 79-83 but actually finished the 2007 season 88-74, meaning they got lucky.

So no, it is not correct to say few agreed.

nrmaxx,
in perez's last 3 seasons his walks have risen (granted as has his strikeouts), his era went from 3.5 to 4.2 between 07 to 08. wins have little to do with the effectiveness of the pitcher so im not going to get into that. and you cant base how much a person will make based on how similar a lefty is to another lefty from their shity seasons at 26 and 27.

i usually agree with 95% of what you say but this i have to disagree with.