It appears Red Sox veteran third-baseman Mike Lowell is headed to the Texas Rangers in a trade, pending the review of medical and other final details. The Sox have agreed to pay approximately $9 million of the $12 million Lowell is owed in 2010, the last year of his contract while they’ll receive Rangers’ minor-league catcher Max Ramirez back.
It’s an odd, surprising deal because Lowell is in the last year of his contract, and, he’s likely to be in better shape in 2010 than 2009, when, despite being limited to 119 games, he was still able to bat .290 and knock in 75 RBIs. It’s seems unlikely – whoever his replacement is – that he’ll will hit much better than Lowell. The question will be whether an improvement in fielding and baserunning from a new 3rd baseman is worth eating most of Lowell’s contract.
Sox GM Theo Epstein has concluded that it IS worth doing that NOW and one gets a sense he wants to start fresh with a new infield in 2010. Theo has emphasized the need to improve the team’s defense. (I think he obsesses about this a bit, while being too casual about the team’s weak, limited hitting). While Lowell has voiced optimism about feeling stronger in 2010 as he continues recovering from a hiip injury, the Red Sox, apparently, doubt he can improve sufficiently in fielding. Lowell, long a terrific fielder, lacked his old range at 3rd during the 2009 season.
The Sox’ eagerness to part ways with Lowell – especially by absorbing such a huge part of his salary – surprised some. (The Sox will pay Lowell $9 million for 2010 on top of already paying departed shortstop Julio Lugo, for his 2010 salary while he continues with the St. Louis Cardinals). Plus, Max Ramirez, while he has potential, is not even an established big league player.
The Sox reportedly are very interested in signing Seattle Mariners’ 3rd-baseman Adrian Beltre, a Gold Glove-calibre fielder. It’s unclear if they can reach a deal with Beltre, who already declined an arbitration offer from Seattle, which would’ve likely paid him close to his 2009 $12 million salary. If not, the Sox can always try to find a first-baseman and move Kevin Youkilis over to 3rd base.
Yet, regardless of how the baseball aspects evolve, Lowell’s exit will leave a huge void in the Red Sox clubhouse. Lowell was one of the most popular players on the team. He’s been universally regarded as a classy, “good guy” on this team. One of its leaders. He’s always done what he could to help the team win. Take the 2009 season, for example: Lowell played with the effects of his hip injury and had to run the bases so slowly that it was painful to watch sometimes. He always wanted to start and disliked missing games when he had to “rotate” in and out of the lineup after Victor Martinez’ arrival.
Lowell’s contributions to the Red Sox fantastic 2007 season will always be remembered. Not only did he help get them there (121 RBIs, .324 average, 21 HRs, 191 hits) but, he was the MVP of the World Series. Lowell became a solid, clutch hitter over his time with the Sox.
What moves will the Sox make now?
The Sox are still pursuing Jason Bay, and, it appears they’re competing with only one team – the New York Mets, who just offered Bay a four-year contract for a total of $65 million. The Red Sox had offered Bay four years at $60 million. The key is whether the Mets may be willing to offer Bay a 5th year. If they do, the Sox will probably bow out of the competition.
If that happens, they might pursue Matt Holliday, but, I now think it’s just as possible, if not more likely, that they’d find another player to play left-field. I just don’t think the Sox will pay Holliday what his agent, Scott Boras, wants him to get. Boras, at the winter meetings, made a laughable attempt to compare Holliday to Mark Teixeira, another of his clients, who got a megadeal last winter.
The Red Sox will likely make a few more moves. There will be some non-tendered players who become available in the next few days. Right now, however, the Sox do not appear poised to make any blockbuster deals. It seems Theo Epstein believes if they can get left-field set, their new 3rd baseman and shortstop – combined with having catcher Victor Martinez around all year – will do the trick. We shall shee.
Meanwhile, there has been considerable talk among Boston sports pundits about Theo’s attempts to manage expectations for 2010. Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy shared some of my outlook in a column yesterday about Theo trying to sell his “bridge” idea. http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2009/12/10/fans_shouldnt_buy_red_sox_bridge/?p1=Well_MostPop_Emailed4
