Some Insight into the Lowe Signing

by gondeee on Jan 13, 2009 7:35 PM EST in Braves Related Free Agents

Over at FoxSports, K-Ros has some interesting insights into the Derek Lowe signing:

The Braves offered Lowe a fourth guaranteed year on the condition that he accept the deal quickly. Their proposal trumped the Mets' three-year, $36 million offer by a wide margin, but the Braves did not want to lose Lowe after failing in attempts to land pitchers Jake Peavy and A.J. Burnett and shortstop Rafael Furcal earlier this offseason.

In addition to the financial package, the Braves sold Lowe on the idea of working with pitching coach Roger McDowell, a former major-league reliever who — like Lowe — relied on a sinkerball as his primary pitch.

It looks like Lowe got what he wanted, but the Braves tactic is really interesting. I wonder if it was as much to try and secure a big-time starter as it was to prevent the Mets or Phillies from submitting a counter offer. The fact that those were the other two teams competing for Lowe's services makes this signing even sweeter.

I had the same thought about McDowell, but I wasn't 100% that he was a sinkerballer. McDowell helped out on both the big pitching signings by the Braves this week. He was also a good friend of Kawakami's agent, Dan Evans.

K-Ros also had this to say about the Braves possible next move:

The team's next step will be to add a bat, and the club has spoken with the Yankees about their available hitters, Xavier Nady and Nick Swisher, sources said.

I'm not ecstatic about either of those two, but they're definitely an upgrade over anything we have now.

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Comments

The comment that McDowell being a sinker ball pitcher had so little to do with this signing that I’m surprised it entered anyone’s mind let alone into print. You mean to tell me Derek Lowe is excited about going to the Braves for that reason?

by Whodunnit?4040 on Jan 13, 2009 8:30 PM EST reply actions

I hope these 2 signings don’t stop the Braves from re-signing Hudson or picking up his option for 2010. I think Kawakami was an uneccessary signing for 3 years at 23 mil. Japanese pitchers tend to be more miss than hit, but hopefully he’s decent.

by BravesFan on Jan 13, 2009 8:32 PM EST reply actions

Well it probably depends on how much Hudson wants.

"The only time the Mets win is in the offseason"

by Falconzfan284 on Jan 13, 2009 8:43 PM EST up reply actions

He wants yo momma.

Oh, Bobby.

by sdp on Jan 13, 2009 10:08 PM EST up reply actions

You are hyper sensitive

by Whodunnit?4040 on Jan 13, 2009 9:47 PM EST reply actions

Cant we all just get along...

I know there are several of Franky Wren’s right hand men on here that know exactly how to make the braves the greatest franchise ever but Jesus…..all the HATE! :(

by dabraves on Jan 13, 2009 11:05 PM EST reply actions

I’m pretty sure we played right into Boras’s hands on this one. His Master Plan has been to send Lowe to Atlanta and Perez back to NY ever since Burnett signed with the Yankees. He didn’t want the Braves and Mets in a bidding war over Lowe (for once, Boras didn’t want a bidding war) because he knew that while the Mets were interested in both pitchers, the Braves weren’t going to come after Perez, and if the Mets didn’t sign Perez, who out there would possibly give him as much money?

Boras maximized his payout on this one.

by FineHamAbounds on Jan 14, 2009 1:31 AM EST reply actions

I should add...

I’m totally in favor of the Lowe signing, and thought it should have been our plan from the beginning. I just keep my tinfoil hat on regarding Boras’s manipulations. :)

by FineHamAbounds on Jan 14, 2009 1:33 AM EST up reply actions

I like

the signing as well. I was hesitant since it is a four year deal, but then I saw he didn’t get a no trade clause. I hope he is solid in those 3rd and 4th years. But if all goes well he won’t have to be our number 1 anymore in the last half of the contract.

by Jerret Anderson on Jan 14, 2009 3:13 AM EST up reply actions

New Guy Here

Just found the blog. Good stuff but the comments look like they can spin out of control quickly. Anyways, I am so-so on this deal. Four years is a long time for a 36 year old (albeit a quite consistent and seemingly durable 36 yr old). Does anyone really see this contract being fulfilled? Maybe we get two good seasons out of him and get max value through a trade just before he starts to slide.

by Mash1 on Jan 14, 2009 7:24 AM EST reply actions

Welcome aboard

the comments look like they can spin out of control quickly.

I can comment to that in two ways:
“That’s an understatement.”
“You have no idea.”

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Jan 14, 2009 9:15 AM EST up reply actions

Boras

Just throwing this out there, but Boras must have loved the fact that the Braves verbally trashed his biggest sports agent business rival – Art Tellem’s company. Maybe, deep down, he loved what the Braves did and thus didn’t go back to the Phillies or Mets with a counter offer after we offered 4 / $60MM.

Probably not, but you know Boras had to love that.

by Dandrews on Jan 14, 2009 10:03 AM EST reply actions