Look for Yankees to Target Lowell; 3 years/$45M?
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Published by Dugout GM on October 29, 2007 12:56 pm under Free Agents, Red Sox, Yankees
With Alex Rodriguez apparently out the door, look for the Yankees to make a quick and big strike once they put in place a new manager for the team. Considering they need production from third base, and given that they won’t have any third prospects ready in the near future, look for them to go after Mike Lowell immediately. Here’s why:
- Lowell is a former Yankee. He knows what it means to be a Yankee and will easily and quickly fit it.
- It will improve their team defense. Lowell is a gold glover at third – he is also a former shortstop.
- It will give the Yankees a PR edge over the Red Sox. Nothing like taking away the Sox World Series MVP.
- The Yankees don’t have any third base prospects who are ready for the majors, at least not for another two or three years.
- Filling third base sooner rather than later allows Cashman to spend the winter focusing on other team needs.
- It creates leverage for Cashman to negotiate with Scott Boras and ARod. Even with Lowell on board, the Yankees could still sign ARod. Lowell could move to first.
Look for something along the lines of a three-year, $45M offer from the Yankees to Lowell. The Sox are unlikely to match that, so it would be tempting for Lowell to take it and return home.
