Is there a market for a 36-year-old pitcher due $45 million coming off a season in which he posted a 4.67 ERA? There may be, thanks to a weak crop of free agent pitchers.
DOB agrees, writing that, outside of John Lackey, there’s no pitchers with Lowe’s pedigree on the market. However, Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt are expected to be available.
The Braves would likely have to take on a contract in exchange for Lowe’s. Perhaps the Yankees — whose lack of starting pitching depth will prevent them from winning the WS this year — would give up Nick Swisher, who has two years and $15.75 million (plus a $10.25 mil club option) remaining on his contract. Swisher, a switch hitter with decent power from the right side, can play first base and the outfield. Juan Pierre, due $20 million over two years, might be a more realistic option.
At this point I’d be open to a pure salary dump, especially if it made the difference in retaining Javy V.
–CB
Amen. The money is more needed at power bat.
DLowe has something, or rather doesn’t have something, that Halladay and Oswalt do. A no trade clause. So the Braves won’t be held hostage like the Padres were with Peavy. It’ll take taking on a big contract but we should be able to get something of value/clear space to sign someone.
I’m on board with this plan.
I think the Braves will be more inclined to do a salary dump that switch money for money. Lowe’s won 15 games more because we seem to hit when he pitches than because he’s sharp. He’s also been squeezed by the umps a lot when I’ve watched. I say trade him if we can, but I would be surprised if anyone other than the Yankees or Red Sox(Wakefield’s retiring) would take him on. I think Medlen can be a solid starter if given the chance. He’s more likely than Lowe to draw a good bat in return via trade, say paired up with Diaz, methinks.
I know many here in the office love Matty D. He’s played hard for us. But he’s sketchy at best on defense, and his signature moment in a Braves uniform will be getting picked off third base to kill our shot at the playoffs. He’s at his peak trade value now, and I say put him on the board to try to improve our power.
Why the hell is Acosta allowed anywhere near the field in extra innings??
This is the major drawback of the 2010 Bobby Cox Farewell Tour: he’ll still be making these decisions for a whole season.
Hopefully 2009 is the Farewell Tour for Manny I’ll-costya.
I think Eddie Perez ought to send Manny home in about the 7th inning if it’s a close game.
Well, that was an appropriate end to the season. Season high losing streak, losing record at home, and the final rally of the year killed by a crappy call by an umpire. The Atlanta Braves never let me down.
At least you didn’t have Bob Carpenter, the world’s oldest 9 year old, as your guide through it all.
Speaking of morons with mics…did anybody else catch that howler of McCarver’s yesterday? He tried to claim it was Craig McMurtry that helped end Rose’s hit streak before Gene came in to finish him off.
I can sort of see getting Craig and Larry Mac confused (they were each occasionally effective tall guys with moustaches who looked like Dennis Weaver) but Lewin has JUST SAID that Craig was the last Atlanta rookie with X number of wins, back in ’83, right before McCarver took him back 5 years earlier and handed him a pivotal regular season role. It was appalling and hilarious all at once. McCarver in a nutshell.