Mike Lowell traded to Texas, Max Ramirez to Boston (Deal is off)

[yeszir]

I've been reading around and some people are of the opinion that this is a salary dump? If we're eating his entire salary....

[Dojji]

Lowell was a significant player in Red Sox history. He played a big part of the WS Title in 2007 and was one of the pieces in a very controversial trade.

 

Right, his comeback in these last 3 years solidified a position that had been a real sore spot for the Sox since the days of Wade Boggs -- similar to our issue right now at SS actually.

 

He's also the alltime leader in RBI on this team, among third basemen. Not that the competition is exactly fierce, but it's his to remember us by.

[ridyag]

You gonna retire his number too?

THE YANKEES WOULD HAHAHAH

[GWSoxFan]

Actually' date=' looking at all of his minor league numbers... he must be coming back from an injury, he did well before last year.[/quote']

 

There were people who liked him better than Teagarden and Salty when they were going through the Texas catching prospects. He's a solid prospect who had a setback last year. Hopefully he'll rebound.

 

We could turn him for Halladay, but I'm betting we keep him for insurance with VMart.

[Dojji]

I've been reading around and some people are of the opinion that this is a salary dump? If we're eating his entire salary....

 

It's a bizarre move. The only way it makes sense is if the Sox think Max Ramirez is a sure thing either at C or 1B. Since we already have Anderson, and Rizzo will be in AA by midseason if not before, one would hope they see him as catcher.

 

I think the best thing you can say about it is that the DEAL ITSELF is fairly low risk. They gave up a guy who wasn't coming back after this deal anyway and got a talented younger guy for him. That said, the roster implications are not that low-risk unless someone other than Casey Kotchman is our everyday 1B.

[26 to 6]

Why do people act like there isn't an emotional attachment to players? Hell' date=' I liked Carlos Baerga. :dunno:[/quote']

Believe me I know where you're coming from, I have emotional attatchment to plenty of players. But usually they've got a little more tenure than 3-4 years. It's ok though, I was just busting chops because of how emotional he seemed about wanting to see Texas' first game in Boston. s***, I can relate...I wanted to see the Cardinals first game at Yankee Stadium in 2003 after Tino signed with them the year before...turned out I got to see Roger's 300th win as well. One of my favorite moments at Yankee Stadium ever was the 5 minute applause between Roger striking out Renteria for his 4000th and then Tino coming up for his first AB right after. It was a continuous applause first for the 4000th K and then for Tino's return. Great moment.

[SCM33]

There were people who liked him better than Teagarden and Salty when they were going through the Texas catching prospects. He's a solid prospect who had a setback last year. Hopefully he'll rebound.

 

We could turn him for Halladay, but I'm betting we keep him for insurance with VMart.

 

They wont carry 3 catchers on the big league roster this year. If he stays, he plays in AAA this year, and he will be 26 next year. I have a feeling he is a trading chip.

[26 to 6]

THE YANKEES WOULD HAHAHAH

Maybe if he played 5 years and won 2 championships (Reggie Jackson...shortest tenured Yankee to have his number retired)

[yeszir]

Anyone else feel like Lowell's been on the team for longer than 3 years?

[riverside sluggers]

http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/red_sox/index.php/2009/12/10/sox-nearing-deal-to-send-lowell-to-rangers/

 

It says hear that Ramirez is an offensive minded catcher with limited defensive skills. Those skills might force him to be a 1st base/DH type in the majors

[SCM33]

Anyone else feel like Lowell's been on the team for longer than 3 years?

 

Its just the salt and pepper look thats grown on you.

[Tyler Durden]

I've been reading around and some people are of the opinion that this is a salary dump? If we're eating his entire salary....

 

How exactly would it be a salary dump if the Sox are eating his salary? Some people are dumb.

[yeszir]

Its just the salt and pepper look thats grown on you.

 

And the vague resemblance to Brian Daubach. Who will be our dirt dog now!!!

[a700hitter]

I hope this means the ink is wet on a contract with Beltre.

[GWSoxFan]

They wont carry 3 catchers on the big league roster this year. If he stays' date=' he plays in AAA this year, and he will be 26 next year. I have a feeling he is a trading chip.[/quote']

 

He plays 1B as well so they could carry him if they wanted to, but I agree with you. I would assume they would put him in Pawtucket. For those looking at his stats last year, he apparently had two wrist injuries which, given Lowrie's troubles with his wrist, is not what you want to hear, but it explains the offensive regression.

[SCM33]

I hope this means the ink is wet on a contract with Beltre.

 

I hope the pen is out of ink....NOOOOO BELTRE!

[SoxFangirlFromDC]

Have been lurking for a long time, but created an account just so I could post my discontent at seeing Lowell go. Yeah I know he's getting old but I'm still attached.

[yeszir]

Its just the salt and pepper look thats grown on you.

 

Have been lurking for a long time' date=' but created an account just so I could post my discontent at seeing Lowell go. Yeah I know he's getting old but I'm still attached. [/quote']

 

This applies more here.

[Dojji]

Anyone else feel like Lowell's been on the team for longer than 3 years?

 

Yeah. Because he's been on the team for 4 years.

 

He's been here for the 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 seasons.

[a700hitter]

I hope the pen is out of ink....NOOOOO BELTRE!

You'd rather Kotchman at 1B and Youk at 3rd?

[yeszir]

Yeah. Because he's been on the team for 4 years.

 

He's been here for the 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 seasons.

 

But 2009-2006 is 3! I'm so confused.

 

I look at numbers all day, let's let this mistake slide.

[riverside sluggers]

Beltre is a gold glove defender and can easily give 20-25 HRs, 85-100 RBIs. Having pitcher's parks as his home parks skews his career stats. 287 on the road, .253 at home

[Dojji]

The important word here, of course, is "through." He was here from 2006 through 2009.

 

Anywho, not important.

 

You'd rather Kotchman at 1B and Youk at 3rd?

 

That's not the only alternative. As far as I can tell no one's signed Andy LaRoche or Russel Branyan. Branyan in particular is fairly interesting, and not that much older than Beltre.

[Dojji]

Beltre is a gold glove defender and can easily give 20-25 HRs' date=' 85-100 RBIs. Having pitcher's parks as his home parks skews his career stats. 287 on the road, .253 at home[/quote']

 

That's the correlation/causation fallacy. The guy has hit poorly at home everywhere he's gone. WE DO NOT KNOW that it's 100% park factors. For all we know he doesn't like the pressure of dealing with home crowds.

[GWSoxFan]

If Beltre is their plan, they better have an agreement with him because otherwise it was stupid to trade Lowell right now. If they don't, Boras is going to eat them alive and we may end up with Kotchman at 1st and Youk at 3rd to start the season.

[yeszir]

From Beltre's wikipedia page:

 

In his first game back from the DL from that injury, teammate Ken Griffey Jr. conspired with those responsible for the Safeco Field PA system to have Beltre's at-bat intro music be the waltz from The Nutcracker Suite.[8]

 

[Keeper]

LOL Griffey is the man.

[Dojji]

If Beltre is their plan' date=' they better have an agreement with him because otherwise it was stupid to trade Lowell right now. If they don't, Boras is going to eat them alive and we may end up with Kotchman at 1st and Youk at 3rd to start the season.[/quote']

 

They. Have. Alternatives. To. Beltre.

 

LaRoche, Branyan, I think Huff is still on the market, and, the guy they traded for plays 1B too and is borderline big league ready. That besides a couple trade possibilities worth pursuing -- we had a chance at Gaby Sanchez of the Marlins and might still have, and of course there's the Adrian Gonzalez wet dream.

[a700hitter]

They. Have. Alternatives. To. Beltre.

 

LaRoche, Branyan, I think Huff is still on the market, and, the guy they traded for plays 1B too and is borderline big league ready. That besides a couple trade possibilities worth pursuing -- we had a chance at Gaby Sanchez of the Marlins and might still have, and of course there's the Adrian Gonzalez wet dream.

Branyan and Huff? Yuk!

[SCM33]

The important word here, of course, is "through." He was here from 2006 through 2009.

 

Anywho, not important.

 

 

 

That's not the only alternative. As far as I can tell no one's signed Andy LaRoche or Russel Branyan. Branyan in particular is fairly interesting, and not that much older than Beltre.

 

Laroche is interesting. He didnt get a fair chance here, and tore it up once he left.