Funny, looking back on my first column on the blog and it was just two years ago that I was saying the Sox needed to bring back Mike Lowell. In fact I laid out the terms I was acceptable to as well:
Now Mike turns 34 in the Spring. For the Sox to sign him to a 4 year deal would mean the Sox would be paying a 37 year old to play third base. They need to seriously look at what’s out there and weigh their options. I say a 3 year guaranteed deal in the neighborhood of $39-$42 million with a mutual option for the fourth year is as far as I would take it if I were Theo.
This coming season is the third year of that three year 37.5 million contract he signed after the 2007 season and his body is breaking down. Not to say that he has sandyvagititus like Maroney or anything. In fact the exact opposite. There were days that he could barely walk (never mind run or field) that he was still in the lineup.
Alas, the Sox are rumored to have him out there for someone to pick up. Thanks for the great years of service, the 2007 World Series MVP performance, but we’re done with you so pack your bags. Funny that he was rumored to be out of here last year when the Sox were pursuing Teixeira only to stay here and have an excellent season. He was also rumored on his way out the door prior to the 2007 season even starting.
So take the rumors for what they are, rumors. The general consensus is that the Sox are going to make a strong play for Adrian Gonzalez. Makes sense him over Prince Fielder just because with Big Papi and Mo Vaughn we’ve seen how a big guy is going to be in the later stages of his career. Gonzalez is a horse and gold glove first baseman that doesn’t look prone to the Ortiz/Vaughn type breakdown. If they’re truly going after Gonzalez the easy move is to trade Lowell who is older and slide Youk back to his natural spot at third base.
Gonzalez isn’t even listed in the media guide for the 2010 Padres. You have to assume he’s on his way out the door. Just saying.
Do I think it’s a smart move to trade Lowell, especially if you’re going to pay $6 million of his salary? No. The way I look at it is that you have Lowell who can still hit. If he’s playing a part time role in the field and a part time role as the DH against lefties why wouldn’t you keep him? Unless it’s Lowell saying if I’m not a full time player, I’m not playing for this team. He doesn’t strike me as a player with an ego like that.
So for now we wait and speculate (that rhymed). Hopefully the Sox are burning up the phone lines and we get another Causeway Day trade announcement like the Schilling trade of 2003. Only this time the team is bringing in a Gold Glove winning first baseman with power. Here’s hoping.
