Lowell & Schilling - moving on or staying put?
Mike Lowell had a great regular season - and capped off a nice postseason run with the WS MVP. If anything, that only added dollars to the FA contract he’ll sign this winter (in Boston or elsewhere). Think Lowe, Derek - 2004/05 offseason.
Curt Schilling showed his age at times during the regular season, and then had three terrific outings out of four in the postseason - only adding to his legacy as a great postseason pitcher.
So if you’re the Red Sox, what d’ya do?
I saw Schilling only a couple days say that he’s still only interested in a one-year deal to stay in Boston. If the money is still $13 mil for that year - or even if its a few million more added on… I do that in a second. To me, for this franchise with their revenue streams, that is a no-risk/high-reward deal. If he gives them *nothing*, no big deal - it’s only a year. If he does what he did in 2007 - regular season and postseason - its a good deal. If he gives them 25 starts at sub-4.00 ERA and the Sox make the postseason and Schilling delivers in 3/4 of his postseason starts (again), he’s a steal. Given Wakefield’s age and injury concerns, they’ll need a fifth starter (after Beckett, Dice-K, Buchholz, and Lester) - and Schilling, if it’s only a one-year contract that gets it done, is the answer.
Lowell is very interesting. He’s not signing in Boston for two years. He’ll get at least one team to offer him four years, maybe for as much as $14-15 million per year. I do think the Sox would do 3yrs/$35-38 million - but I just don’t know if Lowell would take it. If he doesn’t, I’d thank him for his two years of service and remind that he’s always welcome in these parts.
I’d then see what ARod would need - and decide its too much, even for the best player in baseball. I’d move onto the Marlins, and see what it would take to get Miguel Cabrera. If that doesn’t get done, then I move Youk to 3B - and find a (preferably young) slugging 1B… which is a lot easier to find than a good-hit/good-field 3B.
It’ll be very interesting to see where each of these guys is playing next season. I admit it… my hope is that they’re both in the fold in Boston.
October 29th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
Lowell is gone. (or if I was Theo… I would let him go). He had a career year in a contract year.. man that never happens…. He’ll be 34 years old next year, and I would not want to be on the hook for a 38 year old for $16 Million in 4 years. You get the feeling that the next Lowell contract is going to end up as one of those immovable contracts in 2010. As mentioned, there are plenty of ways to fill in a corner infielder, especially when you have a guy like Youk who can play either position
As for Schilling, i would pay him ANYTHING he wants in a one year deal. That is about as low risk as you can get for a terrific #2 starter with major post-season success.
October 29th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
You wouldn’t give Lowell 3yr/$36 mil? I absolutely agree that four years is out of the question… but I’d consider eating a third year at around $12 mil if it buys me two good years the next two years.
To me, it’s akin to Pedro after 2004. I woulda gone 3 yrs for him - but not 4. The Mets offered four… thanks for the memories, Petey, you’re always welcome in these parts.