The Rangers pulled out of a deal for Mike Lowell in December due to concerns about Lowell's injured thumb, but were apparently fine with the status of Lowell's right hip. In spite of the fact that Lowell is currently on the DL with a strain in that hip, Texas still has enough interest to be monitoring the veteran infielder's progress, according to WEEI.com's Rob Bradford.
Now that Texas has dealt Justin Smoak, it opens up a need for a right-handed bat at first base should Chris Davis not be able to handle an everyday job. We know that the Rangers have shown interest in Xavier Nady, who comes at a much lower price tag than the $5.28MM or so that remains on Lowell's 2010 contract. We heard last month that the Red Sox were willing to pay all of Lowell's salary in exchange for a better prospect, but as the days on the calendar continue to slide away, that offer from the Red Sox becomes increasingly less worth the cost of a higher-rated prospect.
The Lowell-to-Texas rumors have lingered all season long, so it's perhaps fitting that these negotiations might take us right up to the deadline and beyond. You'd have to think that if the Rangers still have eyes on Lowell after his further injuries and a lack of production (a .658 OPS in 91 plate appearances), they like him enough to eventually bring him on board after all.
Good. Mike Lowell deserves better than what the Red Sox have shown him. Furthermore, I don’t think he’s actually hurt; I think the Sox put him on the DL to free up a roster spot. What did Mike Lowell say in an interview less than a week before he went on the DL? “I feel like I’m wasting a roster spot,” or something to that affect–let’s call that a paraphrase, shall we?
I agree with you that Lowell deserves better and deserves to play but there just isnt any room for him on the BoSox because four players are in front of him (Youkilis, Martinez, Beltre, and Ortiz) who have had very very good seasons. And Lowell has become a liability on defense because he doesn’t have nearly the range he used to. If anyone is thinking it, dont get fired up about me putting Ortiz there because ever since he came out of his hitting slump he’s been one of the best power hitters in baseball.
I agree for the most part. I just think the Sox did him dirty. They could’ve put him on waivers or given him an outright release (depending, of course, on how much they’d have to give him of his remaining salary).
As for Ortiz, all I’ll say about him is I hope Theo doesn’t give him a multi-year deal like he wants.
They could’ve, but what baseball sense would that make?
The Sox do not have any obligation to play Mike Lowell, their only obligation is to pay his salary and they are continuing to do that. If they were to outright release him, they’re essentially giving him up for free to the Rangers, Twins or Yankees, any of whom could end up facing the Sox should they make the playoffs. The Sox can’t simply send him to a direct competitor AND pay his salary, that would be idiotic and as much as I assume he hates riding the bench, he’s probably well aware of that fact and understands the team’s position.
The biggest problem is that his hip renders him borderline useless to an NL team, so no matter what, we’d be letting him go to a competitor. It’s nothing personal, just baseball sense.
I agree. I don’t think Lowell is any more hurt than he was before and could probably play 1B at least 5 times a week. He was just extremely unlucky in that the ONLY Sox regulars not to get injured were the ones he could replace: Youkilis, Beltre, and Ortiz.
This does not make any sense. His hip obviously has gotten worse and they were worried in ST about his thumb that at most would have kept him out (then) a couple weeks of the regular season. If Texas plays him “right” they *might* be able to get 1-2 games in the field out of him a week tops and that many games as a DH at the most, then have him PH, any more than that and he will end up on the DL again.
Boston at this point is probably going to eat the entire amount just to keep his bat away from the NYY anyway as a PH/DH, but this mess with Texas worried over a minor thumb injury, yet ignoring a hip that has gotten worse is baffling if this is true.
Why would the Sox need to do anything at all to keep Lowell away from the Yankees?
Nick Johnson’s setback, Lowell can still hit if given a chance to play fairly regular as a DH and he can be a decent PH on a green bench that the NYY have, which is the only real weakness that they have, not to mention a leader all of his career and someone who is not volatile of the mouth and stable, much like Jeter is and could see those 2 going even further into leading that clubhouse into a mega team the rest of the year.
Ok, but you’re missing the point. Mike Lowell is not a free agent. The Yankees can’t force the Red Sox to trade him to them. So again, why would the Red Sox need to do anything to keep Mike Lowell away from the Yankees?
With the lineup Texas puts out, all they need is a warm body to catch balls at first, but if Boston is finally willing to let him go this would be a nice pickup
The Sox never stopped being willing to give him up, the issue is that they’re not willing to give him up for nothing while paying his salary, especially to a team that they could very well see in the playoffs.
At this point, I have no doubt the Sox would give him away for a Single A arm with a 12.73 ERA if the Rangers would take on his remaining salary so we’d have room to add salary at the deadline. Otherwise, they’ll need to give up at least a AAA arm that could be considered of more use out of the pen than Okajima at this point (Which shouldn’t be too much to ask for).
A healthy Lowell is better than Nady. Lowell can play 3B as well. Although Nady can play both corner outfield spots, but his arm is weak due to the tommy-john surgery.
Either way both are an upgrade over Arias on the roster, as Blanco can handle the Utl. infield spot on his own. We definately need a RH bat to fill in for Davis against lefties.
I sometime forget that Mike Lowell is still alive. Poor guy deserves better, although I didn’t want to see him re-signed even after the WS MVP. 😀
Don’t be so apathetic to Mikey – $13M/yr is a lot of dough. I like him; but hard to feel sorry for someone making $13M to sit the pine/play baseball. Put it in context!
They should just trade Lowell and get something while they still can. Eat a bit of salary, get something back.
The Phils should be all over this. Lowell would help the team immensely. He is another rh bat that can hit for some power. He can play 3b allowing them to bring Polanco back at 2b while Utley is still out which would be easier on Polanco’s arm. It gives the team the flexibility to trade Werth if the right offer comes along because they would have teh rh bat to hit behind Howard already. It just makes too much sense not to happen, especially if the Sox will eat most of the money.
This is all about keeping Lowell off the Yankees. That’s all it’s ever been since the season started and the Yankees lost Nick Johnson.
The Red Sox did do Lowell dirty as someone said below. They’ve treated a player who was integral in their last championship like a burden. I mean, the Red Sox are the one’s who signed him to this deal and gave him a no trade clause, but because they found a newer shinier toy they treated him like garbage.
This is why the Red Sox can’t have an old timer’s day. They demonize their players once they are done with them and the guys leave with bitter tastes in their mouths.
That said, if the Red Sox are planning on making the post season they have to be ruthless here and keep him off the Yankees. On the Yankees he could DH almost every day and spot start for Arod at 3b to rest Arod’s hip on occasion. He’d fit in like a glove in that clubhouse and I could definitely see him having a Yankee moment.
It’s equally short sighted to send to any AL team in contention though since that hurts the Red Sox just as much, but I think Theo couldn’t handle the fan backlash from Lowell being a cherished piece on the Yankees. Imagine he wins a ring with the Yankees? Theo would never live it down that the Sox paid him 12 million to help his hated rival.
I feel bad for Lowell. He deserves a lot better than what he’s been put through this yea…and for the record I don’t think he’s really injured. I think he took one for the team and went on the DL.
What exactly is with your apparent grudge against the Sox? Are you really Bronson Arroyo or something?
You pretty much sum up why your entire argument is bunk in one statement:
“They’ve treated a player who was integral in their last championship like a burden.”
My basic response to that is: if the shoe fits. Lowell’s hip and thumb injury have made him a burden on the team. The Sox couldn’t have trotted him out there to start at third and hoped to compete. They’d be in fourth place right now if they put the ego of one player over the quality of the team. Sure it’s not entirely his fault and the situation sucks for him, but it’s the situation that life dealt him and he’s got to suck it up and deal with his $12.5 million dollars.
I love Lowell and he’s been one of my favorite Sox for a few years, that said, there are worse fates than not being able to play baseball regularly because you’re fourth or fifth on the depth chart and nobody else thinks you’re good enough anymore to pony up something for you.
Were you one of those guys going into nerdrage over the Yankees not offering Bernie Williams a guaranteed contract?
Old timer’s day doesn’t win you ballgames or put butts in the seats: fielding the best team you possibly can accomplishes those two goals.
I just can’t stand the whole, “The Red Sox do it smarter, better than everyone else” garbage that came out a few years ago when Gammons decided to throw objectivity out the window and turned into a cheerleader on ESPN.
The only thing the Red Sox did smarter and better was be lucky enough to keep Manny Ramirez long enough to win 2 titles.
I don’t buy this “Theo is brilliant” garbage since he’s not. He’s a decent GM, but not the best.
What Red Sox fans don’t realize is that if you watch ESPN, read Gammons or Law, you want to vomit from all the blatant homerism.
Even Kruk on MLB is now a Red Sox pom pomp carrier because of his obvious grudge against the Yankees.
It’s annoying that a 3rd place team gets so much ink.
Where are the stories about how the Padres are doing it? Or the Rangers?
As for how the Red Sox treat their ex players, it’s sad. That’s a town with dedicated and passionate fans, but the organization craps on the players so often that they never want to come back.
All you ever do is whine about the Redsox every goddamn post.A lot of the same could be said about NYY.
All you ever do is whine about the Redsox every goddamn post.A lot of the same could be said about NYY.
A simple ‘yes’ to my question would’ve sufficed, Mr. Arroyo.
A simple ‘yes’ to my question would’ve sufficed, Mr. Arroyo.
I just can’t stand the whole, “The Red Sox do it smarter, better than everyone else” garbage that came out a few years ago when Gammons decided to throw objectivity out the window and turned into a cheerleader on ESPN.
The only thing the Red Sox did smarter and better was be lucky enough to keep Manny Ramirez long enough to win 2 titles.
I don’t buy this “Theo is brilliant” garbage since he’s not. He’s a decent GM, but not the best.
What Red Sox fans don’t realize is that if you watch ESPN, read Gammons or Law, you want to vomit from all the blatant homerism.
Even Kruk on MLB is now a Red Sox pom pomp carrier because of his obvious grudge against the Yankees.
It’s annoying that a 3rd place team gets so much ink.
Where are the stories about how the Padres are doing it? Or the Rangers?
As for how the Red Sox treat their ex players, it’s sad. That’s a town with dedicated and passionate fans, but the organization craps on the players so often that they never want to come back.
What exactly is with your apparent grudge against the Sox? Are you really Bronson Arroyo or something?
You pretty much sum up why your entire argument is bunk in one statement:
“They’ve treated a player who was integral in their last championship like a burden.”
My basic response to that is: if the shoe fits. Lowell’s hip and thumb injury have made him a burden on the team. The Sox couldn’t have trotted him out there to start at third and hoped to compete. They’d be in fourth place right now if they put the ego of one player over the quality of the team. Sure it’s not entirely his fault and the situation sucks for him, but it’s the situation that life dealt him and he’s got to suck it up and deal with his $12.5 million dollars.
I love Lowell and he’s been one of my favorite Sox for a few years, that said, there are worse fates than not being able to play baseball regularly because you’re fourth or fifth on the depth chart and nobody else thinks you’re good enough anymore to pony up something for you.
Were you one of those guys going into nerdrage over the Yankees not offering Bernie Williams a guaranteed contract?
Old timer’s day doesn’t win you ballgames or put butts in the seats: fielding the best team you possibly can accomplishes those two goals.
How do the Yankees plan on acquiring Mike Lowell, especially since the Red Sox would be so upset about it? Turn on their PS3 and change the “force trades” setting?
I think, given the fact that the RS are up against the luxury tax threshold, that they would be looking more for payroll relief than prospects. Even if they could get some team to pay half of Lowell’s salary, that’s $3M (half of half of six) that can be used to pay off the pro-rated portion of some relief pitcher’s salary, and possibly get a AAAA backup outfielder.
I liked your thinking until you got to the AAAA outfielder. They already have plenty and will have to shed at least one in about a week, when Hermida comes back.
LOL… I would agree that relief pitching is top priority for them, but they still need some backup in the outfield, if you ask me. Their DL list still looks like a guest star list from M*A*S*H, and they are depending on J.D. Drew to be the healthiest guy in the outfield. Ouch! ;O) Remember, there’s only a few million to play with here (I wish my checkbook had that problem), so after RP, there may not be much left for anything else.
I liked your thinking until you got to the AAAA outfielder. They already have plenty and will have to shed at least one in about a week, when Hermida comes back.
jgmaynard is exactly right. If they can get even 20% of the remainder of Lowell’s contract back, they can use that money to pull in a power left handed reliever (I think Burnett from the Nationals is a prime target).
jgmaynard is exactly right. If they can get even 20% of the remainder of Lowell’s contract back, they can use that money to pull in a power left handed reliever (I think Burnett from the Nationals is a prime target).
Thank you – it’s always good when people agree with me. :O)
If Oki was up to his usual form, I don’t think that the BP would be nearly the issue, but I still think the luxury tax is a big thing for them right now and a salary dump of some sort will be needed to resolve it. Lowell is obviously the prime target for revenue dumping – they will likely still have to pay most of his salary, even if they just accept that poor PTBNL kid who keeps getting traded around. He seems to be in every trade! LOL.
Thank you – it’s always good when people agree with me. :O)
If Oki was up to his usual form, I don’t think that the BP would be nearly the issue, but I still think the luxury tax is a big thing for them right now and a salary dump of some sort will be needed to resolve it. Lowell is obviously the prime target for revenue dumping – they will likely still have to pay most of his salary, even if they just accept that poor PTBNL kid who keeps getting traded around. He seems to be in every trade! LOL.
A bucket of balls and a gallon of BBQ sauce? SOLD!
A bucket of balls and a gallon of BBQ sauce? SOLD!