Derek Lowe, who's proven to be clutch, durable and even versatile (he was a successful closer before switching to a starting role), is seeking to match or even beat the $16-million salary Andy Pettitte was paid by the Yankees last season when he was 35, as Lowe is now.
The two pitchers had similar platform years (Lowe was 14-11 with a 3.24 ERA last year compared to Pettitte's 15-9 with a 4.05 ERA in 2007) and fairly similar numbers in the preceding couple years, as well (though Pettitte's overall starting career is more impressive). A couple executives have mentioned that Lowe's agent, Scott Boras, made the comparison.
Pettitte has limited his field to the Yankees and Houston in his free-agent years. But the number of teams chasing Lowe is large, and may include the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Braves, Phillies, Giants and Mariners. The Yankees were expecting to present their offer to Lowe, which will follow proposals for top target CC Sabathia as well as A.J. Burnett, sometime this week.
Lowe gave the impression that he preferred playing on the East Coast, where he had a successful stint in Boston before moving to the West Coast by signing a four-year deal with the Dodgers before the 2005 season that just expired. But even if he limits the field based on geography, the Detroit product still would appear to have at least five viable suitors to choose from.
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LUDICROUS!!! Scott Borass is on crack. I hope all his clients end up in New York, dragging the Yankees down for another decade. Any team that pays any of Borass' clients the kind of money he is looking for are fools. Contrary to what Borass thinks (or at least claims publicly) baseball is going to be affected by the recession. If I owned a team I would be very wary of tying a lot of money up long term in any but the rarest of players.
mishagothe
New London , CT
Total Comments (300)
Boras is Effing high. Yankees will get C.C. and Burnett... and stay away from Boras' Texeria and Lowe.
Yankee27
Castaic , CA
Total Comments (1080)
16 Mill? Maybe over 2 years but fu(k no for each year. I cant stand that POS Boros. Why do any of these teams even deal with him? Just say no to all his players no matter who they are. I mean look at what buying all those players has done for the Yankees. They havent won in many years and they have a payroll thats over 100 million dollars more per year than most teams.
BOHICA
Lexington, KY
Total Comments (579)
$16 M to start for Derek Lowe is crazy. Ben Sheets is a better pitcher, and younger, and I don't think any forecasters expected him to get $16 M.
derek in wisc
Sun Prairie , WI
Total Comments (1)
The reason why the comparison doesnt work is that Pettitte was going on a year to year basis. If Lowe wants to take a 1 year deal for 16 mil I'm sure the Yanks will be happy to sign him.
CountryClub
Bensalem , PA
Total Comments (2)
This sounds high, but Lowe is pretty much a guarantee to go a good 200 innings at a respectable ERA. $16 million sounds like he's only talking to the Yankees.
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Dodgerfan16
Total Comments (5)
16 Mill? Next...
skil89
Braintree , MA
Total Comments (37)
Lowe sould stay in the National League. If he comes back to the AL, he will have to deal with the DH again and I don't think he is good enough anymore to have to pitch to 9 players instead of 8
Chucker413
Londonderry , NH
Total Comments (7)
Stay in the NL? I'm sure he's terrified of a league where Dustin Pedroia is the MVP.
MWSlippery
Denver , CO
Total Comments (1)
i dont want to pay him 16 million. Im not as enamored with him as many are just because he pitches inning. He had a high ERA in a bad hitting division. No Thank You.
theevilhim
Little Neck , NY
Total Comments (92)
C'mon 12-13 mil a year for Lowe...16 mil is wayyy too high
But I'd be willing to give him 55 mil/4 years for the Mets, they could reallly use him.
jho
Total Comments (205)
Lowe DID NOT have a high ERA. His ERA was 3.24 and that is very very good, even in the N.L. I agree 16 mil is too high but he is worth a good 10-12mil easily. Thinking about it though. Boras will get that for Lowe. I mean a few years ago he got Darren Drieford 55mil at 11mil per year from the dodgers and he haadn't proved anything except he has the POTENTIAL to be good. Lets face it people. Boras gets his clients the big bucks. It doesn't make me like him any more of course but it is true. I hate the man but i wish I worked for him. Actually I take it back. I do not hate the man if he sends Texiera to my Angels. that's all I want for Christmas is a Texiera at first base in Anahiem for the nest 7-10 years.
Big Rack's Rib Shack
Los Angeles , CA
Total Comments (8260)
Tex, if you come to stay with the Angels you can Fu**ck my sisters. Both of them and one is married but don't worry. I will work it out with her 6-5 280 black belt husband.
Big Rack's Rib Shack
Los Angeles , CA
Total Comments (8260)
I think once word spreads about his $16 million asking price, his suitors will cease to be "many."
hyperRevue
Total Comments (11449)
Ummm, let me think....NO
avirex34
Total Comments (132)
$16 mill maybe for a 1 yr contract, but even that is a stretch. As far as him being a #3, he was the Dodgers ace down the stretch and he held himself well, but he is prone to bad stretches during the year. He has always pitched superb at the end of the season though and can be trusted in meaningful games. Somebody said Sheets is so much better, call me crazy but I'll take Lowe and his durability and gamer attitude over Sheets any day, especially in the post season.
bruinboy
Northridge , CA
Total Comments (201)
It is kind of ridiculous to try to consider Lowe an ace. I hope the Braves hear this and drop out. Boras also said earlier that he expected Varitek to receive a Posada-type deal, then later brought it back to around $11 million a year. He's probably just throwing that number out there as a high-ball that will increase team's initial offers. Anybody that pays over $12 million per year for this guy will get what they deserve. ESPECIALLY if they happen to be in the AL East or Central
BravesandCards
Atlanta , GA
Total Comments (76)
The Sox have good young pitching and don't need to pay a premium for Lowe or Burnett...
Latrappe
Total Comments (14)
This is all getting ridiculous. NONE of these players are worth the asking prices, and Boras is ruining it for all ball clubs. Season after season these players are getting more and more dollar wise. This country is on the brink of a depression, and the clubs that pay the hundreds of millions over the next few seasons will lose a ton in the long run. Way to keep up with the times, Boras you greedy pr*ck.
karmabad
Seal Beach , CA
Total Comments (37)
The Red Sox and Yankees wont even give him that kind of jack. 3 years $36 mill tops
Yankee27
Castaic , CA
Total Comments (1080)
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