Red Sox Need to Target Lowell Now
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Published by Dugout GM on October 29, 2007 01:30 pm under Free Agents, Red Sox, Yankees
Why the Red Sox need to resign Lowell now:
- He was able to provide protection for Manny. If he’s gone, protection will be provided by JD Drew, and that’s not going to make Theo/Tito sleep well at night.
- He wants to be in Boston.
- Because the Yankees want him.
- They’ll have the funds available with Schilling sent walking and Clement (remember him?) coming off the books.
- The Sox have their eye on Miguel Cabrera as their future clean-up hitter – the next Manny. The Sox can deal Youkilis and some prospects for Cabrera and move Lowell to first.
The Red Sox have two priorities this off-season: 1) re-sign Mike Lowell and b) let Curt Schilling walk. Lowell is a big reason for the Sox 2007 World Championship. You’d be hard pressed to find more consistency and a better attitude from a player. Lowell has been the calm in the storm – the guy the Sox could always depend on. He acts like a captain.
Lowell will be 34 at the start of the 2008 season, so first base is a potential option for him in a few years, since first is an easier position to play. He likes hitting in Fenway Park, where he’s capable of setting pitchers up by using right field more often than most right-handed hitters. This allows him to see more pitches inside to pull.
Lowell is a clutch performer, and if he wants to stay in Boston, the Red Sox should comply – within reason. A contract for three years and $36M is fair and should be enough to entice Lowell to stay if offered quickly.
Of course, Theo & Co. may be too enthralled with ARod to aggressively pursue Lowell. We’d rather have Lowell and three and $36M than ARod at eight and $240M. Much less potential reward for the Sox with Lowell, but far, far less risk and opportunity cost as well.
