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

[Rdsxmbnt]

I just dont see Beltre over Lowell enough of an upgrade to justify eating 9 million and then offering 10+ mil per yr for Beltre. His defense is very good' date=' but he doesnt fix their gaping hole in their lineup.[/quote']

 

No one is paying 10+mil plus for Beltre. Figgins who is a better player around the board only got 9mil. I can't see a guy with a sub-.700 making more than 8 mil let alone 10+. Boras is a good agent but he can't turn everything into a massive deal.

[Peter Backgammons]

Did everyone read Boras flat out comparing Beltre to Bay? I was initially confused because I thought Bay was a Boras guy. Turns out no, but holy crap the guy has a lot of clients.

 

 

We did a study of Beltre’s road numbers compared to a very good hitter like say Jason Bay. Obviously Beltre had some nicks this year with his collarbone, but looking at his ‘06-’08 numbers on the road and compared them to Bay’s ‘07-’09 performance offensively on the road and we’ve come up with the fact that Adrian had more RBIs, he had a few less home runs, his batting average was 25 points higher and his OPS was about the same. And I’m not including anything about Beltre’s 48 home run season. Just to put it in perspective the type of offensive player Adrian Beltre is outside of Seattle. You can really see he compares favorably a very coveted, talented free agent player today. Then you add in the fact I don’t think anybody in baseball will not tell you that Adrian Beltre is far and above the best defensive third baseman.

[riverside sluggers]

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view/20091212mike_lowell_trade_talks_continue_at_healthy_pace/

 

The Sox will work on the left field solution before moving on to the corner infielder

[SoxSport]

Holliday is going to be a tough sign for the Cardinals, because Pujols is "only" getting $14 mil, and that is throwaway money for Boras. Paying Boras (oops, meant to say Holliday--Freudian slip) more than Pujols may be a bit of a problem in St Louis.

 

Gammons had some interesting things to say in that WEEI interview: trading for Halliday doesn't make sense for the Red Sox (more sense for the Yankees--I would add--they are in a win now mode again); Bay not wanting SF, Beltre not wanting SAFECO.

 

I think the Sox have a real shot at Beltre, and I think he might be good for Fenway. They may have to soften their hard stand on 4 years for Beltre or Bay, however. I would do at least an option for a 5th year on both. Bay could be the DH in a few years, anyways. You have to be flexible if you want to bag a top FA these days. And flexibility means overpaying at whatever it takes to bag the player you want--the NY way.

[ohiosplendidsplinter]

Hate to see him go. He was a loyal BoSox and a good man.

[yeszir]

Maybe not so much?

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4738602&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines

 

The trade hits a snag with Lowell's thumb injury.

[a700hitter]

Maybe not so much?

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4738602&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines

 

The trade hits a snag with Lowell's thumb injury.

Re-signing him after 2007 has turned out to be a bad move. Now, we can't even unload him while paying his salary.

[ORS]

This looks like Texas is leveraging Lowell's latest injury to increase the $$ coming with him or to make it a lesser player than Ramirez coming to Boston. Be interesting to see how this plays out.

[a700hitter]

This looks like Texas is leveraging Lowell's latest injury to increase the $$ coming with him or to make it a lesser player than Ramirez coming to Boston. Be interesting to see how this plays out.

I thought the Sox were picking up almost the entire salary. How much were they agreeing to eat? That's not a rhetorical question.

[yeszir]

I thought the Sox were picking up almost the entire salary. How much were they agreeing to eat? That's not a rhetorical question.

 

I think it was 9.5 initially.

[ORS]

I thought the Sox were picking up almost the entire salary. How much were they agreeing to eat? That's not a rhetorical question.

I've seen it reported to be the $9.5M yeszir posted down to as low as $6M, rhetorically.

[riverside sluggers]

I thought the Sox were picking up almost the entire salary. How much were they agreeing to eat? That's not a rhetorical question.

 

Maybe theyre trying to haggle the Sox to include a prospect as well

[Dojji]

They can have Bubba Bell and Randor Bierd

[riverside sluggers]

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/10509588/Buzz:-Latest-Hot-Stove-news

 

The Sox could go after the oft injured Nick Johnson, article suggests 2 years/$10-12 million

[Spudboy]

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2009/12/lowell_may_need.html

 

More trouble with the trade. Lowell may need surgery on the thumb.

[Dojji]

Dang. I wanted Ramirez. I suppose we could offer them Delcarmen instead...

[TheMino007]

Thats why I hate the Hot Stove and the MLB offseason. People have assumed this deal has been done for a while now and have moved on when in fact it isn't official and still on going.

 

While Nick Johnson is a nice OBP type player, the guy is hurt too much and the defensive down grade from moving Youk to third isn't worth it.

[TedWilliams101]

Just cut Lowell and either get Beltre or Gonzalez.

[Dojji]

No interest at all in Beltre. The only reason to dump Lowell is if you get an actual better player, and Beltre isn't a lock for that by any means.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

No interest at all in Beltre. The only reason to dump Lowell is if you get an actual better player' date=' and Beltre isn't a lock for that by any means.[/quote']

 

Someone who is healthy and would likely play in more games and provide likely better defense is not a better player than someone who has a thumb problem, a hip problem and should really be a DH?

[TedWilliams101]

No interest at all in Beltre. The only reason to dump Lowell is if you get an actual better player' date=' and Beltre isn't a lock for that by any means.[/quote']

 

Lowell can't play defense where as Beltre is one of the best defense 3B.

Lowell: career -0.2 UZR/150 (-14.4 in '09)

Beltre: career 13.9 UZR/150 (21 in '08 and 15.7 in '07)

 

Lowell is old and injured, thinking he will return to his '07 form is just wishful thinking. Beltre is 30, Lowell is 35.

 

Offensively, Beltre will likely be better than Lowell. His career line looks fine: .270, .325, .453, .779 but that certainly isn't the full story. Safeco has been a nightmare for him. His road splits are a much more accurate reflection of his abilities.

Career road splits: .287, .338, .488, .826. Put Beltre in Fenway and he could do some damage.

 

At this point in Lowell's career, his WAR is at best about 1.5. You can expect at least a 3-4 WAR from Beltre in Fenway.

 

Now, I'd still rather move Youk to 3rd and get Gonzalez, but Beltre is certainly a good option as well.

[example1]

Haven't seen an update here for awhile. Looks like Tex is still hopeful the deal will go down:

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091216&content_id=7817548&vkey=news_tex&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex&partnerId=rss_tex

 

Until then, the Rangers press on with the resources they have in their search for a right-handed bat, more pitching and help at catcher. A pending deal with the Red Sox for infielder Mike Lowell remains at the top of the agenda.

 

That deal is still alive, but the Rangers -- who would send catcher Max Ramirez to Boston -- are waiting for Lowell to undergo a complete physical.

 

"Hopefully that will be this week," Daniels said.

 

I'm hopeful this deal goes down. It seems like if the Sox are paying that much of Lowell's salary they can throw in a lower tier prospect or something if TEX balks because of a concerning thumb.

[Emmz]

Haven't seen an update here for awhile. Looks like Tex is still hopeful the deal will go down:

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091216&content_id=7817548&vkey=news_tex&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex&partnerId=rss_tex

 

 

 

I'm hopeful this deal goes down. It seems like if the Sox are paying that much of Lowell's salary they can throw in a lower tier prospect or something if TEX balks because of a concerning thumb.

 

I really hope we get rid of Lowell so that we have room for Beltre/Gonzalez. Youkilis is an upgrade over him at third, and so is Beltre.

[example1]

I really hope we get rid of Lowell so that we have room for Beltre/Gonzalez. Youkilis is an upgrade over him at third' date=' and so is Beltre.[/quote']

 

I've got to think they can get rid of him with enough effort.

[RedSox2737]

Mikey Lowell....class guy all day......miss him already

[Emmz]

Yeah, but he was a defensive liability, and we're looking to upgrade. I think it's best to move on and get what we can, while he still has some value. He's definitely lost a step.

[BSN07]

Latest tid bit,

 

Lowell is flying to Texas today to meet with the Rangers' front office and medical staff, and to take a physical according to ESPN's Jayson Stark. Lowell saw a hand specialist in Arizona earlier this week.

[TheMino007]

Guy was productive last year in his limited time with the Sox, 120 games and he had 19 homers and 70 + RBI. I know RBI's are overrated, but you need somebody to drive those high OBP guys in. Lowell does just that, he drives guys in, and that should be appreciated, not brushed a side. I think with the proper amount of rest he can still be productive, depending on how screwed up his thumb really is. Guy can be a part time DH vs. lefties and can play 3rd when the Sox are facing a lefty or if Youk or Kotchman needs a day off..... anyway.... can this Rameriz guy be an adequate catcher for the Sox next year? I've seen the break down for V-Mart and his offensive numbers in terms of OBP and BA are down when he catches as opposed to DH/1stbase. There will be a point when catching too much will be detrimental to Martinez's offense, so he needs to be at 1st or DH some of the time.

[Dipre]

Guy was productive last year in his limited time with the Sox' date=' 120 games and he had 19 homers and 70 + RBI. I know RBI's are overrated, but you need somebody to drive those high OBP guys in. Lowell does just that, he drives guys in, and that should be appreciated, not brushed a side. I think with the proper amount of rest he can still be productive, depending on how screwed up his thumb really is. Guy can be a part time DH vs. lefties and can play 3rd when the Sox are facing a lefty or if Youk or Kotchman needs a day off..... anyway.... can this Rameriz guy be an adequate catcher for the Sox next year? I've seen the break down for V-Mart and his offensive numbers in terms of OBP and BA are down when he catches as opposed to DH/1stbase. There will be a point when catching too much will be detrimental to Martinez's offense, so he needs to be at 1st or DH some of the time.[/quote']

 

Mike Lowell cannot play defense anymore. The Sox need a regular 3B, not a platoon situation to suit a specific player's needs.

[bsox0407]

Trade is not going through. Mike Lowell has torn ligament in his right thumb and he needs surgery.