Hot Stove Update, 11/25: Lowell

by Randy Booth on Nov 25, 2008 11:24 AM EST

According to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal, the Red Sox are confident they would be able to trade Mike Lowell:

Lowell could be a candidate for Frank McCourt's Los Angeles Red Sox if the Dodgers failed to re-sign free agent Casey Blake.

Other rival executives, however, are skeptical that the Red Sox could move Lowell quickly.

Lowell, who turns 35 on Feb. 24, is coming off hip surgery and guaranteed $24 million over the next two seasons.

The Red Sox are confident he will be fine, but one general manager countered, "I don't think anybody will take a chance on Mike Lowell until you see him play next spring."

The blueprint for a Lowell trade might be last winter's Scott-Rolen-for-Troy Glaus deal, in which the Cardinals and Jays exchanged high-priced, physically questionable third basemen.

0 recs | Comment 12 comments

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Lowell is going to be really difficult to trade...

As I wrote before, he has a pretty serious hip injury. If his cartilage doesn’t degenerate, or degrades even more, next season, and he develops osteo arthritis in his hip socket . The Surgery he had was to clean up tendon/cartilage and hip socket. Teams are going to wait and see about Lowell, so my guess is that he will traded early next season, or if the Sox are lucky at the end of spring training.

The surgery that Lowell had help fix the labrum, but it can’t really address the torn labrum has already done serious damage to his hip socket.. It is going to be a wait and see approach in how Lowell handles spring training, and perhaps early part of the next season.

by superferret on Nov 25, 2008 1:59 PM EST 0 recs

I would...

keep Lowell to platoon with Tex and Youkilis. Then when Lars comes up, if his contract has not expired yet, trade/release him.

Well, I will appreciate for you to keep my zingers out of your mouth!

by BoSox415 on Nov 25, 2008 4:38 PM EST 0 recs

Would you ever bench Tex for Lowell or Youk?

I think all of these players would have a hard time being platooned. First off, you would start Tex every day if hes healthy, same with Ortiz (maybe a few games off), so I guess you could platoon Youk and Lowell if they were both healthy, but that would seem like a terrible waste of resources. There’s an argument to keep Lowell for depth, and maybe let him play his trade value up, but a two-year platoon is unlikely.

Also, Lowell would not be blocking Lars. Papi and Teixeira would (assuming that we sign him). If we don’t sign Tex and Lars comes along super quickly then maybe that would get you to trade Lowell.

by BTLove on Nov 25, 2008 6:01 PM EST up 0 recs

I should rephrase that

Tex and Youkilis would play first and third, and Lowell would be a nice bat off the bench for a corner infielder. Whenever Youk needs a break or he is injured, Lowell to third, Tex still at first. Whenever Tex needs a break or he is injured, Youk to first and Lowell to third. I really doubt that Youk or Tex would need to take many days off, it would be more if they are injured.

Well, I will appreciate for you to keep my zingers out of your mouth!

by BoSox415 on Nov 26, 2008 9:31 AM EST up 0 recs

No, Lowell is going to have to be traded. The Sox have to get younger.

by matzushocka45 on Nov 25, 2008 7:52 PM EST up 0 recs

first of all

Anderson is only 20. He won’t be ready to be a full time player for at least another 3 years. Many of you are wishcasting on his prospects. He’s very young and talented, but these things take time. By which time Lowell will be gone, Youk will be 33 and declining and Papi will also be declining. Not sure about Papi yet next year, last year was an aberration with the injuries so I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt for the next 2 years.

Tex would be a great signing. I’m thinking 7/150 should get it done. I know he wants 10 years, but geez that’s A-rod/Pujols territory and he’s not that good.

by sydneysox on Nov 25, 2008 9:57 PM EST 0 recs

.962 OPS

granted.. its 41 games in portland but that doesnt scream 3 years away to me.

granted.. its 41 games in portland but that doesnt scream 3 years away to me.boston is one of the most aggressive franchises in promoting young players.

granted.. its 41 games in portland but that doesnt scream 3 years away to me.boston is one of the most aggressive franchises in promoting young players.i could imagine a scenario where they’d have him in pawtucket this year

by EWS1532 on Nov 26, 2008 10:24 AM EST up 0 recs

41 games!

this screams small sample size. I see him in portland all year, going to Paw in 2010.
Hey I hope I’m wrong and we can have a .950 OPS, 22 year old 1B on the minimum for 4 years…

by sydneysox on Nov 26, 2008 6:37 PM EST up 0 recs

What is important

Is that he went up one level and didn’t miss a beat. Usually players need time to adjust to better competition.

If Anderson gets off to a fast start in Portland, he may be in Pawtucket by the end of the year.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Nov 27, 2008 12:02 PM EST up 0 recs

Ortiz has had back to back years with serious injuries. Last year it was the knee this year it was the wrist. Let’s not forget his miserable start this past season when he was healthy.

by matzushocka45 on Nov 26, 2008 7:13 AM EST 0 recs

Umm yeah the only way the sox trade lowell “quickly” is if they pay off his contract in full and pay the contract of a player a team is trying to dump.

by spinz on Nov 26, 2008 2:46 PM EST 0 recs

And call me crazy, but i actualy think it would be possible to keep lowell AND sign tex. Between lowell and JD drew and 7+ other chances for accidents, somebodys not going to play full time. So you’ll have the option of moving someone like youk to the outfield. And if everybody is healthy and playing really good, well then you shop lowell around after hes showing himself to be really strong this season and get much better returns on him.

by spinz on Nov 26, 2008 2:55 PM EST 0 recs