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Mike Lowell

Olney’s Latest: Benson, Lowell, Chavez, Mulder, Eckstein

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Buster Olney’s ESPN Insider blog is always a good source for links from around the league. Let’s see what’s up today.

  • Kris Benson’s agent Gregg Clifton says his client will to throw in Arizona about a week after the Winter Meetings.
  • He says that the Yankees "haven’t put forth any offers that would give them a serious chance to get Mike Lowell." So did the Yankees pull back their offer, or did they even make one in the first place?
  • Eric Chavez just underwent his third surgery in the past two months. With three years and $37 million left guaranteed ($34 million in salary plus a $3 million buyout for 2011).
  • Brewers manager Ned Yost is asking NL Rookie of the Year Ryan Braun to take 1,000 groundballs per day this off-season. Maybe this will help Braun improve from his poor defensive year in 2007.
  • The Cardinals are calling Mark Mulder’s progress "very positive." He’s slated to start throwing in January, and according to the team will be ready to throw off a mound come Spring Training.
  • The Mets are still interested in David Eckstein as their second baseman.

Joe Pawlikowski is co-author of River Ave. Blues, a Yankees blog.

Yankees Pull Back Lowell Offer?

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According to Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald, the Yankees have pulled their offer to Mike Lowell off the table since they’re close to signing Alex Rodriguez.  The last indication was that Lowell had a four-year offer from the Yanks in the neighborhood of $50-55MM.  Reportedly that offer was made with the idea of Lowell moving to first base.  If that was true, why would an A-Rod signing change things?  The offer was made with an A-Rod signing in mind.

None of the other suitors for Lowell are admitting anything right now.  The Phillies seem a logical fit but Pat Gillick is denying it.  The Brewers may also enter the market for a third baseman. 

Did Mike Lowell Really Receive Four Offers?

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This has all been covered here on MLBTR, but I guess it’s gotten lost in the shuffle because I’m receiving tons of email about it.  Maybe I’ll try to build something into the site to better keep up with the big names besides just reading through everything.  In the meantime, you can always use the search bar on the sidebar.

Anyway, let’s talk about this Mike Lowell rumor from WHDH Channel 7 News out of Boston.  These guys are getting a ton of traffic to this rumor and I just gave them more.  Oh well.

The uncredited rumor says a source close to Lowell indicates that he’s received four-year offers in the $55-60MM range from the Braves, Angels, Cardinals, and Yankees.

GM Frank Wren debunked the Braves portion today.  Esteemed St. Louis Post-Dispatch writer Bernie Miklasz killed the Cardinals portion last night.  The Boston Herald’s Rob Bradford shot down the Angels rumor.

So we have an uncredited rumor that is currently 0 for 3. 

A different Boston TV station, WBZ, said today that the Yanks did make an offer in the $56-60MM range to Lowell today (courtesy of Dan Roche).  That could be accurate but I would like to see some of the regular Yankees beat writers pick it up also.

Phillies Still Focused On Pitching, Not Lowell

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UPDATE: Gillick specifically said tonight not to believe everything you see on ESPN.com, in reference to the Lowell rumor.

Pat Gillick reiterated today that the Phillies are focused on pitching rather than Mike Lowell.  Specifically a starter and a reliever.

Buster Olney had reported earlier that the Phils were making a big play for Lowell.

Frank Wren Chat At MLB.com

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Braves GM Frank Wren chatted with fans today at MLB.com.  A hot stove summary is below.

  • Wren is working on various short-term options for center field, as he does not want to block his two center field prospects.
  • Rumors that the Braves would sign Mike Lowell or trade for Ken Griffey Jr., which were silly from Day 1, were shot down.
  • Octavio Dotel wants a multiyear deal, and Wren doesn’t seem to expect him back.  The Braves do have interest in re-signing Ron Mahay though.
  • Wren says that he won’t go after any more starters if the Braves sign Tom Glavine.
  • There haven’t been any talks with Mark Teixeira regarding a contract extension yet.

Yanks Want Lowell For First Base

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UPDATE, 11-15-07: A reporter from WBZ TV out of Boston is saying Lowell has a four-year offer from the Yankees in the $56-60MM range.

UPDATE, 11-14-07: Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch kills the Lowell-Cardinals rumor.

FROM 11-13-07:

A new twist!  Dan Graziano reports that an Alex Rodriguez signing wouldn’t stop the Yankees from pursuing Mike Lowell.  They’d like Lowell to play first base for them.  A big part of it would be to take Lowell away from the Red Sox, it appears.  Of course the Red Sox would get the Yankees’ 28th overall pick next June as a consolation prize. 

Graziano admits signing Lowell to switch positions would be tough, as teams like the Angels and Dodgers will be after him.  According to a Boston television station, Lowell has already received offers from the Braves, Angels, Cardinals, and Yankees.  Each is supposedly a four-year offer between $55-60MM.  Color me skeptical of that particular rumor, but you never know.

Anyway, the Yankees dropping $50MM+ on Lowell just to thwart the Red Sox seems kind of irresponsible to me.  Here’s what they’d have:

C – Jorge Posada – $13.1MM
1B – Mike Lowell – $14MM
2B – Robinson Cano – $0.5MM
SS – Derek Jeter – $20MM
3B – Alex Rodriguez – $28MM
LF – Hideki Matsui – $13MM/Johnny Damon – $13MM
CF – Melky Cabrera – $0.5MM
RF – Bobby Abreu – $16MM
DH – Jason Giambi – $21MM

That’s a $139MM starting lineup, and one of those guys would be on the bench.  I imagine a Lowell signing would compel Brian Cashman to shop someone.

Dodgers Pursuing Aaron Rowand

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Buster Olney’s blog today had some good rumors to digest.

  • Olney writes that the Dodgers are making a "heavy play" for Aaron Rowand.  Apparently they love the idea of adding a good character guy to the clubhouse.  They’d be paying $25MM for Rowand and Juan Pierre in their outfield for the next several years.
  • The Phillies are making a "big play" for Mike Lowell.  This certainly doesn’t jive with the speculation that the Phils only have $10MM to spend and it’s going toward pitching.  By the way, Ruben Amaro Jr. ruled out the possibility of signing Torii Hunter.
  • Olney has an exec source who believes Hunter will sign with the Rangers for six years and $90MM.
  • Olney doesn’t see Kenny Rogers apologizing to the Rangers anytime soon.
  • Mike Cameron has a better chance of re-signing with the Padres, now that his 2008 season will be reduced by 15% in playing time.
  • Six teams are in on Matt Clement, but he’s still expected to land in San Diego.  The Royals are probably one of the six.
  • Speculation is growing that the Braves might consider bringing Andruw Jones back.

Odds and Ends: Clark, Izturis, Clemens

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First day for teams to negotiate with free agents, always a good time.  Here are today’s odds and ends.

  • Jeff Blair notes that one athlete may still be better paid than Alex Rodriguez: Kimi Raikkonen, a Formula One driver, earns $51MM per year.  No need to debate on whether race car drivers should be considered athletes, I just thought it was interesting.
  • The D’Backs don’t figure to spend much on free agents, because they’re a smart team. Tony Clark wants two years, $4MM, and the team is thinking it over.
  • The Bucs will probably hold onto Jack Wilson this winter, as they’re cutting Cesar Izturis loose rather than pay him $5.45MM.  The Cardinals have interest in Izturis, by the way.
  • Confirming what we already knew: the Yankees will pursue Mike Lowell and Johan Santana.
  • Marty York has a source saying the Blue Jays might pursue Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte.  Say what?
  • Doug Melvin isn’t planning on moving Rookie of the Year Ryan Braun from third base unless the Brewers acquire another "legitimate, bona fide third baseman."
  • Mark Gonzales notes that the White Sox tried to acquire Scott Linebrink and Octavio Dotel in 2006, implying that Kenny Williams might go after one of them now.  Linebrink is going to be a costly sign, as he’s a Type A and I imagine the Brewers will offer him arbitration.
  • Scott Gregor places odds on various center field possibilities for the White Sox.  He thinks they have a decent chance of trading for Coco Crisp.

Rivera, Posada, Lowell To Hit Open Market?

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Brian Cashman was unable to reach an agreement with either of his big-name free agents tonight.  Both Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada will hit the open market despite receiving improved offers from the Yankees.  Rivera hinted that he could follow Joe Torre to the Dodgers.  That seems an unlikely way for the Dodgers to spend $40MM+.

Honestly I thought the Yankees would extend themselves to get both deals done by midnight tonight.  I’m surprised to see this pair hit the open market, where any team is liable to overpay.  Peter Abraham speculates that Posada might require four years, $56MM, because that’s what Mike Lowell wants.

Speaking of Lowell – the Red Sox don’t seem willing to stretch to add that fourth year.  They’re still negotiating, so maybe something creative can be done before Lowell starts fielding offers from other clubs.

More On Mike Lowell

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Michael Silverman has a little detail on Boston’s three-year offer to Mike Lowell: it’s between $12-15MM per season.  It’s all guaranteed, and it doesn’t seem to be a "take it or leave it" offer, but they won’t add a fourth year.  So it’s for $45MM on the high end.  If you agree with Jon Heyman’s 4/52 prediction, Lowell would be leaving a minimum of $7MM on the table.

Silverman adds that the Red Sox won’t go nuts trying to replace Lowell with a big name if things don’t work out.  They figure that if Kevin Youkilis can win a Gold Glove at first, he might be adequate at third base.  They peeked their head in on Miguel Cabrera and balked at the price of Jacoby Ellsbury and Clay Buchholz.  Joe Crede might be someone for the Sox to consider. 

The Yankees, Angels, and Phillies will be in on Lowell if he can’t come to an agreement with Boston.  However, Phils GM Pat Gillick has stated his focus is pitching rather than third base.

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