Lowell to Rangers Finalized

[filihok]

Playoff outcomes are about talent and luck.

I don't know too many people who picked the Twins over the Yankees this year.

But we're getting pretty far away from Mike Lowell

[gRYFYN1]

Im not so sure of this deal ... while on the face the deal will be judged on what they do to follow it up.

IF they are moving Lowell to to sign Beltre the move sure seems poor. I don't see Beltre as a major upgrade over Lowell -- yes he may be younger and lowell maybe injured -- but even injured Lowell posted better offesive numbers than Beltre (106 v 82 OPS+) And assuming Lowell is realitively heathly Beltre isn't hat much of an upgrade defesively (although us better).

paying 10 mi to get rid of Lowell then another 10m for beltre for the next 3-4 years is a head-scratcher ..


Now .. if this is a precursur to getting Cabrera from Det and moving Youk to 3rd this year (then getting a 3rd basemen, releasing Ortiz after this year, and moving youk back to 1st next year) .. Im all for it.

[200tang]

IF they are moving Lowell to to sign Beltre the move sure seems poor. I don't see Beltre as a major upgrade over Lowell -- yes he may be younger and lowell maybe injured -- but even injured Lowell posted better offesive numbers than Beltre (106 v 82 OPS+) And assuming Lowell is realitively heathly Beltre isn't hat much of an upgrade defesively (although us better).

I guess if we're going to ignore Beltre played through 2 injuries and destroys Lowell defensively.

Let's see, Beltre playing in a park that saps RH power versus Lowell playing in a park that rewards it....

Beltre (Career .335 wOBA)
Lowell (Career .347 wOBA)

Defensively

Beltre (Career 13.9 UZR/150)
Lowell (career -0.2 UZR/150)


Yeah...Lowell is WAY better

[Alloutwar]

FanGraphs seems to like it, saying it was a Sox win.

Maybe I'm letting loyalty and the '07 MVP pieces cloud my judgement. But having a solid catcher to come into the picture in 2010 is a good thing, with Kottaras out. So maybe it's not so bad. $9 mil for 6 years of Max Ramirez?

[200tang]

Honestly, all Ramirez has to do is provide 2 WAR in 3 years to justify giving Texas 9M. Unless his wrists are completely destroyed he should be able to do that.

[gRYFYN1]

Im not saying Lowell is better, Im saying that offesively that are about a wash and defesively Beltre is an updgrade . at 31 is Beltre going to get better? his career OPS+ (which is adjusted for ballpark) is only 105,

But I think that spending 11/3 is a high for him when you have to pay off Lowell too, I don't think he improves the overall issues the team had last year.

[200tang]

Im not saying Lowell is better, Im saying that offesively that are about a wash and defesively Beltre is an updgrade . at 31 is Beltre going to get better? his career OPS+ (which is adjusted for ballpark) is only 105,

Even if Beltre isn't going to get better there's a better chance of him staying in norm with his career than Lowell. I would guess at the age of 36 and coming off an injury year he has a much higher chance of suddenly dropping off a cliff.

But I think that spending 11/3 is a high for him when you have to pay off Lowell too, I don't think he improves the overall issues the team had last year.

A big issue with the team last year was defense. So I'm not sure how Beltre doesn't help.

Boston's Defense (UZR)
2009 : -16.3
2008 : 44.3
2007 : 24.1

I don't know...one of those isn't like the other..

[200tang]

his career OPS+ (which is adjusted for ballpark) is only 105,

Also, even though it's park adjusted, it doesn't park adjust correctly for LH/RH. It just uses the park as a whole. Even though it's park adjusted, we'd still expect his OPS+ to go up in Fenway, hence why I brought it up.

[Jeffy25]

Why vetoed?

Seems like a no-brainer for the Sawks to me.

I think Max can hit, I don't know if he can catch, but he can hit.
No Manny, Medium Papi, LF ?
Boston can use the bat going forward

I agree with fili

You not only dumped salary, but got a good player in return. I would be happy if I was a Red Sox fan

[gRYFYN1]

I agree with fili

You not only dumped salary, but got a good player in return. I would be happy if I was a Red Sox fan

well straight up it would be a fine deal, but they will still be payin 75% of Lowells salary so it not really a dump .. but that part of the deal is fine, but I think the followup (how they fill 3rd base) will be more telling to the deal.

[kenny1234]

I agree with fili

You not only dumped salary, but got a good player in return. I would be happy if I was a Red Sox fan

Except by all reports they didn't dump salary - they are paying 3/4 of Lowell's salary to play for Texas. They dumped a player that will probably not be in the starting lineup, and might not have been happy about that.

Basically, they traded 1 season of Lowell, probably sitting on the bench, to get a decent young player that might have injury issues but has no major league experience. Assuming they sign Beltre or someone comparable, then this is probably a good deal for both teams - assuming Texas puts together enough pieces to make a run at the playoffs next year.

EDIT: Or what gryfyn said.

[HoustonGM]

I honestly don't see what this brings Texas. They already have a third basemen that's not coming out of the lineup. So, Lowell is essentially a DH for them...but a league average bat at DH is nothing special. Granted, they dealt from a position of depth and aren't paying much, so it's not really a bad deal since it's unlikely to hurt them... I just don't understand what it gives them.

[200tang]

I honestly don't see what this brings Texas. They already have a third basemen that's not coming out of the lineup. So, Lowell is essentially a DH for them...but a league average bat at DH is nothing special. Granted, they dealt from a position of depth and aren't paying much, so it's not really a bad deal since it's unlikely to hurt them... I just don't understand what it gives them.

grit and clubhouse atmosphere. One thing it does is gives the Red Sox incentive to get Beltre and essentially take him from the Mariners. Doubt that's the reason they did it, but it does factor in.

[Alloutwar]

thats a good point. another intangible

[Jeffy25]

I honestly don't see what this brings Texas. They already have a third basemen that's not coming out of the lineup. So, Lowell is essentially a DH for them...but a league average bat at DH is nothing special. Granted, they dealt from a position of depth and aren't paying much, so it's not really a bad deal since it's unlikely to hurt them... I just don't understand what it gives them.

I agree, but there are plenty of other DH players you can find for really nothing that could potentially help them more.