Why it won't be that hard to trade DLowe

Jon Paul Morosi lists his top 20 FA pitchers not named John Lackey. If a team needs a #2 or #3 starting pitcher to bolster their rotation, they're looking at: Andy Pettite -- who'll be resigned by the Yankees anyways -- Rich Harden, Ben Sheets, Randy Wolf or Jason Marquis. Ouch.

I know this isn't an actuall "link" to why it won't be hard to deal DLowe, but you gotta read between the lines. The FA starting pitchers behind John Lackey are absolutely horrible.

about 2 years ago Scott Coleman 20 comments 0 recs |

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By the same token, fewer teams will be looking for #2’s and #3’s. The free agent landscape doesn’t effect the market for Lowe. The labor market in general does.

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by PWHjort on Nov 22, 2009 6:41 PM EST reply actions

And the market holds that teams...

always want starting pitching, and are willing to pay a premium for it.

by Mr. Sanchez on Nov 22, 2009 7:18 PM EST up reply actions

right

and I don’t think many teams see Randy Wolf or Ben Sheets and his busted elbow as “premium pitchers”.

I think DLowe gets a little undervalued at times. Yeah, his numbers weren’t great, but when you’re in the same rotation as Javy Vazquez, Jair Jurrjens, Tommy Hanson, Kenshin Kawakami and Tim Hudson, it’s easy to look like a not so great pitcher. It’s just his contract that hinders him.

"Are you tryin to say Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball?"

by Scott Coleman on Nov 22, 2009 7:30 PM EST up reply actions

I wouldn't call Lowe a premium pitcher...

I was saying teams will pay a premium to acquire starting pitchers—see the trade returns for guys like Bedard, and the 8 figure salaries thrown at guys like Kyle Lohse, Ryan Dempster, and Bronson Arroyo, decent but certainly nothing special. Teams have proven time and again the market for starting pitchers is a strong one.

And Petite can come off that list, if he’s playing next year it’s only with one team. But outside of John Lackey, Derek Lowe is better than any pitcher available through free agency. The question is are teams willing to pay the 3 year, $45 mil remaining?

by Mr. Sanchez on Nov 22, 2009 7:46 PM EST up reply actions

I wasn't calling him a premium pitcher either

I was just saying that he’s definately better than any other options besides Lackey and that DLowe was always around stud pitchers in 2009.

"Are you tryin to say Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball?"

by Scott Coleman on Nov 22, 2009 8:33 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Ah, then I concur sir.

by Mr. Sanchez on Nov 23, 2009 9:04 AM EST up reply actions

I really don't think he's permanently fallen off the cliff of the 4.50+ ERA

But still, after John Lackey this year, breathing and basic confidence in a pitcher are enough to get you in the Top 10 FA’s. I think the market will open up post-Lackey signing, but I’d love to see somebody hit the panic button and jump on D-Lowe before Christmas.

"...Braves tie! ...Braves tie! ...Braves tie!"

by The Keith Lockhart Era on Nov 23, 2009 6:37 PM EST up reply actions

actually

i think it might be better if we wait and see on DLowe. After Lackey is signed and the bums like Wolf and Marquis and the frequent DL visitors like Harden and Sheets are signed, teams will be desperate to add a veteran starting pitcher. We might get a little more if we’re patient.

"Are you tryin to say Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball?"

by Scott Coleman on Nov 23, 2009 7:52 PM EST up reply actions

Valid point

"...Braves tie! ...Braves tie! ...Braves tie!"

by The Keith Lockhart Era on Nov 23, 2009 10:45 PM EST up reply actions

That might backfire, however

If the big market teams are the ones that suck up guys like Wolf, Marquis, Harden, Sheets, et. al., then we might lose our market entirely. Teams like the Dbacks may need pitching, but they’ll be unable to bring in someone with a $15M price tag. If the interest from the Angels is genuine, our best bet might be to ship him there as soon as the particulars can be hammered out.

by J-Freak on Nov 24, 2009 1:00 AM EST up reply actions

But that kills the idea of using his salary to free up space for a bat...

if you wait to deal Lowe for a bigger package, you might miss on the desired bat. And if you sign the bat before dealing Lowe, you might reduce the package received as teams know you are desperate to deal and reduce payroll.

by Mr. Sanchez on Nov 24, 2009 12:35 PM EST up reply actions

agh

both good points as well.

"Are you tryin to say Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball?"

by Scott Coleman on Nov 25, 2009 12:47 AM EST up reply actions

And how does a 4.50 ERA matter...

again, see the list of guys who had that as about the high mark of their single season ERA and still landed 8 figure salaries. Not that I agree with it, but looking around baseball it seems like Lowe is at about the going rate for a pitcher of his caliber.

by Mr. Sanchez on Nov 24, 2009 12:37 PM EST up reply actions