Say No to Mike Lowell

Losing Alex Rodriguez to his own enacted free agency has left a big hole in the field and in the line up for the New York Yankees. Brian Cashman will be searching frantically for a replacement all throughout the off season, whether it’s an internal option, through a trade, or through free agency. Hopefully Cashman chooses to pursue a trade or an internal option, because the only viable option through free agency is Mike Lowell. Sure, Mike Lowell did hit .324 with 21 HR’s and 120 RBI’s last season. Sure, he was the World Series MVP and is a former gold glove winner, but there’s no other way to describe a Mike Lowell signing by the Yankees but as a mistake. Lowell’s numbers look pretty, if you don’t look back to his dreadful 2005 season with the Marlins, but the man who began his career with the Yankees back in 1998 is sure to command a deal greater then what he’s worth. His commands are still high enough to keep the Red Sox from resigning him as of now even though they have made it blatantly obvious that they want to keep him. Lowell’s OPS during his big performance in his walk year, a year many players play over their heads just for the big pay day awaiting them, was nearly 70 points higher then his career average and at age 33 it’s unlikely that it’s due to a breakout season that he can maintain throughout his career. Lowell greatly benefits from playing half of his games at Fenway Park; he’s become good friends with the green monster, and it is no coincidence that his career was revitalized when he came to the Red Sox. Lowell’s fielding has taken a step backwards as well, as he had a new career high in errors this season that cost him the Gold Glove, even if it was still only 15 errors. Lowell is the right handed bat that the Yankees could use, and they would not have to give up any prospects for him, but with options like Eric Chavez, Scott Rolen, Adrian Beltre, and Miguel Cabrera available via trade there are just better options out there. Let the Red Sox have him.