derek lowe rumor

[j_d_mcnugent]

12/11 Derek Lowe - We have a report from a single unconfirmed source from someone close to the Boston organization, that is telling us they expect the Cardinals to sign starting pitcher Derek Lowe.

December 11, 2004

Lowe Ball coming to St. Louis?

A first look at a potential Cardinal

By Ray Mileur



If our sources are correct it appears that the Cardinals may reach a deal with Derek Lowe the former All Star and 20 game winner free agent from the Boston Red Sox, before the end of the weekend.



He may not be the biggest name on the market, but he may be the hottest. He was the winner of the deciding games of the American League Division Series, American League Championship Series, and World Series this year. Look at these 2004 post season numbers; in four games and three starts Lowe was 3-0 with a Bob Gibson type ERA of 1.86 over 19 and a third innings.



Looking for a winner? The Cardinals may have found him here, maybe?



In spite of his dramatic post season success this year, during the season Lowe was just 14-12 with a 5.42 ERA, was his post season success a fluke or the beginning of a great run?



The Boston Red Sox offered salary arbitration to free agent SP Derek Lowe, this past Tuesday. Boston has until Jan. 8 to re-sign him, while he has until Dec. 19 to accept the offer, All this may be mute by the end of this weekend if our sources are correct.



On a personal level Derek and his wife Trinka make their winter home in Fort Myers, FL with sons Phillip and Tanner (born this past off-season) and daughter Taylor...graduated from Edsel Ford High School in Dearborn, MI in 1991...was All-League in baseball, basketball, soccer and golf and first-team All-State in basketball

http://www.thestlcardinals.com/LoweBall ... Louis.html


with wells signing for 8 mil i think walt is taking that as an indication clement is going to be out of the price range. if a hudson deal cant be done lowe is probably the fallback option. no one seems to be too interested in him so hopefully he wont be too expensive.

[SaintsOfTheDiamond]

If the price is right (and his head is right) he would be a good fit IMO. He keeps the ball down and with the Gold Gloves across the IF (if Renteria can be brought back) he should be just as good as in BOS since the STL defense if a lot better than what he had most of his time in Boston.

[JTWood]

I've never liked the guy. He's too streaky. He just got lucky that his streak showed up for the post season.

imo...

If they sign him, I'll root for him nonetheless. I'm still a Cards fan!

[j_d_mcnugent]

i am not crazy about him but with all free agents it pretty much depends on the price. if he is cheap he could be a good gamble. however, i am pretty sure he is a boras client and that doesnt usually = cheap.

[SaintsOfTheDiamond]

Saw this over at the BirdHouse. I think the commentary at the end says it all. If they're going to spend that kind of money, resign Renteria and sign Polanco for $13million please.

12/12 Derek Lowe - is reported to be looking for a 4 year deal for $48 million dollars. Has everyone lost their mind?

[Pogotheostrich]

12/12 Derek Lowe - is reported to be looking for a 4 year deal for $48 million dollars. Has everyone lost their mind?

I think he can keep looking for that price.

[j_d_mcnugent]

he can look for that but he wont find it unless its deferred without interest until 2052. if he is seriously asking for that much we have probably switched to millwood as a back up plan in case we dont get hudson. i wouldnt mind vazquez or kevin brown either so long as the yanks are paying a large portion of the bill.

[SaintsOfTheDiamond]

I'd love to see Vazquez pitch in STL next year if Yanks pick up some of the contract. I think getting him back in a low pressure NL environment would do him some good. Plus Duncan is one of the underrated pitching coached in baseball in my humble biased opinion.

[j_d_mcnugent]

Now this looks interesting...

Posted on Mon, Dec. 13, 2004

Five teams looking to get Burnett

BY KEVIN BAXTER

mailto:kbaxter@herald.com


ANAHEIM, Calif. - The Marlins made little secret of the fact they came to the baseball winter meetings looking for pitching. But as of late Sunday night, it appeared they might have to give up an arm to get one.

One of the strongest rumors circulating around the Anaheim Marriott's marble-floored lobby had the Marlins trading right-hander A.J. Burnett to any of five teams, among them the New York Yankees, who would then ship Burnett to Arizona in a deal for Randy Johnson.

Also Sunday, the Marlins were rebuffed in their initial offer for Oakland right-hander Tim Hudson, although they reportedly moved closer to a deal with free-agent outfielder David Dellucci after upping their two-year offer, reportedly to more than $1 million a season.

''We've been active,'' general manager Larry Beinfest said. ``We're looking at everything. We're looking at some things we probably didn't anticipate looking at when we came here.''

TRADING BURNETT?

One of those things was trading Burnett, a rumor that gained strength despite the fact many of the principles involved spent most of the day trying to knock it down.

''The interest with A.J. doesn't surprise me because he does have the capability to step up and be a front-line pitcher for any team,'' said agent Darek Braunecker, who spoke with his client by phone Sunday. ``But his intention and his expectation is to play the 2005 season for the Florida Marlins.''

A friend of the pitcher echoed those sentiments, though not everyone shares those expectations.

In addition to the Yankees and Diamondbacks, the Cardinals, Tigers and Red Sox have also inquired about the 27-year-old, who is eligible for salary arbitration after making $2.5 million each of the past two seasons.

Yet it's possible Johnson, the Diamondbacks' Hall of Fame-bound pitcher, may wind up determining Burnett's immediate future.

The Yankees and Diamondbacks have spent months discussing a Johnson trade, only to have the Diamondbacks change their minds after spending $78 million on free agents Troy Glaus and Russ Ortiz at the winter meetings.

But a 2 ½-hour meeting between the Diamondbacks and Johnson's agent Saturday did not go well, so by Sunday morning Johnson was again being mentioned in trade talks -- this time with the Diamondbacks making it clear that the inclusion of Burnett would make any package attractive to them.

THREE-TEAM DEAL

A three-way deal makes sense for everyone concerned. New York would get Johnson, whom it covets, while reuniting right-hander Javier Vazquez with Beinfest, who had the pitcher in Montreal; the Diamondbacks would get rid of Johnson's $16 million salary while adding Burnett, whom they want. And the Marlins would get rid of a young pitcher who is certain to follow Carl Pavano into free agency next winter while getting back a 28-year-old who is signed through 2007.

The deal could be made even more attractive to Florida if the club can pair Burnett with right fielder Juan Encarnacion, allowing them to clear Encarnacion's $4 million contract from the books while creating a spot in the lineup for Dellucci. The left-handed slugger is asking for some guarantee of playing time before he signs.

A number of salary issues would have to be worked out -- Vazquez is owed $34.5 million over the next three seasons, a commitment the Marlins won't assume but one Arizona might be willing to help with since they'll save millions by moving Johnson.

The trade remains a long shot -- especially if the Yankees continue to pursue free agent Pedro Martinez, as they were reportedly doing Sunday night.

As for Hudson, Beinfest, assistant GM Michael Hill, and two other members of the Marlins' front office met with the Athletics in GM Billy Beane's suite after talks between the A's and Los Angeles Dodgers stalled. But according to an Oakland source who took part, Beane found the Florida offer unappealing.

Beinfest, who will leave Anaheim shortly after this morning's Rule V draft, said he had face-to-face meetings with five clubs in addition to Oakland but doesn't expect to complete any deals before returning to Florida.

Staff writer Clark Spencer contributed to this story

[SaintsOfTheDiamond]

Hmm....doesn't seem to be much serious talk about the Cards, but that's never stopped Walt before. The three way deal they talk abou there makes the most sense to me since everyone would be getting just what they want/need.