Starting Pitcher: Mets, Sox, Yanks and Phils on Lowe
According to Gordon Edes of Yahoo! Sports, the Phillies and Yankees have made an offer to free-agent pitcher Derek Lowe, who has also been in talks with the Red Sox and Mets.
However, earlier today at ESPN.com, Jayson Stark said the Phillies are not pursuing Lowe and have never made an offer.
According to our friend Joel Lipsky, Scott Boras told reporters that he will meet with Omar Minaya tonight – presumably to discuss his clients Lowe and Oliver Perez.
The Yankees offer to Lowe is worth roughly $67 million over four years, reports Jon Heyman at SI.com.
Edes believes Lowe’s desire to return to Boston has been overstated, adding, ‘While he would welcome a chance to pitch for the Red Sox, his primary interest is in signing with a club that he believes has a chance to win over the next five years.”
…as i have written before, the way i understand it, lowe is more concerned with the dollar amount than the years…in short, he is far more likely to accept a four-year, $70 million deal, than he is to accept a five– or six-year deal worth less per season…the buzz around lowe suggests he would like to retire at or around his 40th birthday, and would prefer to sign with a team who has a spring training facility near his home in Florida…
In a poll today on MetsBlog.com, only 72 percent of voters said they would not give Lowe a four-year, $67 million deal.
Speaking of starting pitchers…
The Yankees have made a five-year offer to free agent A.J. Burnett, reports Jerry Crasnick at ESPN.com, who believes the pitcher is seeking a similar deal to what Carlos Zambrano signed with the Cubs, i.e., five-years, $90 million.
The Phillies are looking to trade Adam Eaton, reports FoxSports.com, and are willing to pay most of his salary.
