WHDH Reports Lowell Deal Done

[TheKilo]

7Sports reports that Mike Lowell will re-sign with the Red Sox.

 

http://www1.whdh.com/

[Jayhawk Bill]

...for three years, again per your link.

 

Wow.

 

Assuming that we're in the 3/36 to 3/45 range, I think that most of us will consider this good news.

[TheKilo]

I take it with a grain of salt, because WHDH also reported there were four year deals on the table.

 

Still, Olney and Bradford have also reported this is close to completion. Good news (if it is three years) indeed.

[TheKilo]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3118926

 

Mike Lowell and the Boston Red Sox are on the verge of finalizing a three-year, $37.5 million deal, ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney reports.

[Thumper]

Either Lowell realized he couldn't find any other place or was going to stick with Boston all along. Regardless, it's good to have him back and so f***ing glad the Yankees didn't take him.

[inkman]

Either Lowell realized he couldn't find any other place or was going to stick with Boston all along. Regardless' date=' it's good to have him back and so f***ing glad the Yankees didn't take him.[/quote']

Word. After seeing Pedro and JD walk, which were good moves in hindsight, it is nice to see them keep someone worth keeping.

[BoSox21]

Word. After seeing Pedro and JD walk' date=' which were good moves in hindsight, it is nice to see them keep someone worth keeping.[/quote']

 

the difference is that all-important fourth year. Pedro and Damon each found teams willing to give that to them, clearly no one is willing to give Lowell a fourth year. Still, after the 2005 Lowell had, no one would have ever thought he'd get 3 years at over 12 mil a year at age 33

[das11209]

This deal takes care of all immediate needs - we can now concentrate on making this team better.

[BoSox21]

Mike Lowell's three-year, $37.5 million contract with the Red Sox is likely to be finalized Tuesday, pending a physical.

 

According to WBZ-TV's Dan Roche, Red Sox owner John Henry put in a call to Lowell on Sunday and helped convince him to stay in Boston. ESPN's Peter Gammons says both the Dodgers and Phillies were willing to go to four years, though we remain quite skeptical of that information.

 

Interesting that Henry personally called Lowell but it didn't seem necessary. He obviously likes Boston but baseball is a business and if he could've got a fourth year somewhere, he should take it

[Thumper]

This deal takes care of all immediate needs - we can now concentrate on making this team better.

 

Trade Gagne and Crisp for some pitching or a bat.

[das11209]

Trade Gagne and Crisp for some pitching or a bat.

 

Gagne is not tradable - he is a free agent.

 

A catcher like Salty will be good.

 

I started liking the Kerry Wood rumor.

 

Say pass on Miggy Cabrera - wait to see what the west coast teams do on him.

 

What else? Oh yeah that lefty picther from the twins. Sit and wait in the sidelines.

[mtbykr]

WEEI said that the Dodgers were not willing to go to a 4th year. The sox gave Lowell until today to decide...glad he's coming back!

[Cocos Disciples]

Good deal, glad that its not 4 years. The money seems good too, around 12.5 per year.

[YAZMAN]

It's done:

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3118926

[MANNYHOF24]

Goodnews for the sox. This virtually means we will have the same team team on the field opening day as we did in game 1 of the world series. Which you almost never see these days.

[BSN07]

Glad to see mIke back. The deal isnt that bad really. I don't expect him to put up the numbers he had every year over the contract, but I think he will produce good enough for those 3 yrs...

[Jayhawk Bill]

Glad to see mIke back. The deal isnt that bad really. I don't expect him to put up the numbers he had every year over the contract' date=' but I think he will produce good enough for those 3 yrs...[/quote']

 

I'd expect .280/.350/.450 in 2008, dropping to .265/.325/.420 in 2010, give or take. His defense will drop from good to average.

 

That first year is a whole lot like his 2006 year with Boston...if you liked 2006, I'm thinking you'll like 2008.

[Cocos Disciples]

Goodnews for the sox. This virtually means we will have the same team team on the field opening day as we did in game 1 of the world series. Which you almost never see these days.

 

I doubt it. Off season isn't done yet.

[MANNYHOF24]

I doubt it. Off season isn't done yet.

 

The only place I can see changing is possibly center field if Ellsbury is dealt in a deal for Santana, which IMO is unlikely. So I don't think it is a reach to say what I said. I could see then possibly moving Lugo, but I doubt that as well.

[MANNYHOF24]

I'd expect .280/.350/.450 in 2008, dropping to .265/.325/.420 in 2010, give or take. His defense will drop from good to average.

 

That first year is a whole lot like his 2006 year with Boston...if you liked 2006, I'm thinking you'll like 2008.

 

I would say his 2008 should be more between 2007-2006, then exactly like 2006. I wouldnt be suprised if he hits 20 hrs with 100 RBIS and a 290-300 BA. Allthough I will say, If J.D. Drew and Manny have better years his RBI chances could go down slightly, because even though J.D. and Manny were not driving in as many runs they were still getting on base a lot.

[Jayhawk Bill]

I would say his 2008 should be more between 2007-2006' date=' then exactly like 2006. I wouldnt be suprised if he hits 20 hrs with 100 RBIS and a 290-300 BA. Allthough I will say, If J.D. Drew and Manny have better years his RBI chances could go down slightly, because even though J.D. and Manny were not driving in as many runs they were still getting on base a lot.[/quote']

 

Lowell's BABIP was sky-high in 2007. His 2006 stats fit in well with his career before 2005. I see 2007 as a pleasant fluke, and I see 2006 as the level to which he'll regress.

 

YMMV.

[jacksonianmarch]

Lowell's BABIP was sky-high in 2007. His 2006 stats fit in well with his career before 2005. I see 2007 as a pleasant fluke, and I see 2006 as the level to which he'll regress.

 

YMMV.

 

I happen to agree. And for a steady presence in the lineup and lockerroom, he is getting close to market value.

[das11209]

Lowell's BABIP was sky-high in 2007. His 2006 stats fit in well with his career before 2005. I see 2007 as a pleasant fluke, and I see 2006 as the level to which he'll regress.

 

YMMV.

 

Agreed - that's why I was never that high on him coming back though RSN boards are in man love with him. I am just OK with this deal only it's just 3 years and he does not cost an arm and a leg. I will be shocked if he puts up the number like last year. And if we do not pick up Manny's option - we are still missing at least one power hitter in the line-up. If we don't find the bat to replace ManRam - Ortiz will walk every at bat.

 

In the end after A-Rod signed with the Yankees - he was just the second base free-agent available - and the trade routes are just too expensive. We should work on our prospects after this year to back Lowell up.

[jacksonianmarch]

I doubt it. Off season isn't done yet.

 

Coco still needs to be dealt, most likely for pen help.

[das11209]

Coco still needs to be dealt' date=' most likely for pen help.[/quote']

 

Why not sign Kerry Wood and get some real bench. Another year of Alex Cora - I will have to learn some new swear-words.

 

Or get Salty of possible.

[redsoxrules]

Coco still needs to be dealt' date=' most likely for pen help.[/quote']

 

I'd like to keep coco for defense purpose and his speed for late inning pinch running

[das11209]

I'd like to keep coco for defense purpose and his speed for late inning pinch running

 

That might lead to a Jay Patton situation.

[das11209]

I think MiraBelli has not been signed yet with us - right? Who will be back-up catcher? Kevin Cash can catch knuckleball - but he opted for free agency. Any ideas?

[TheKilo]

I think MiraBelli has not been signed yet with us - right? Who will be back-up catcher? Kevin Cash can catch knuckleball - but he opted for free agency. Any ideas?

 

Although I think you could get more for him I wouldn't be shocked if we saw a Laird for Crisp trade.

[jacksonianmarch]

Laird would be a good righty half of a platoon. I think he proved that he doesnt have the ability to be a full time guy, hence he wont be the catcher of the future, but he sure does have a nice skill set for a backup. You could do worse than getting a solid defensive catcher with righty power for Fenway for a CFer who has declined since he left the Jake.