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| Derek Lowe |
Lowe, 38, is in the final year of a 4-year $60 million deal he signed with the Braves prior to the 2009 season. He is scheduled to make $15 million in 2012, but reports say that the Braves are picking up $10 million of his salary leaving the Indians responsible for only $5 million of it.
Last year Lowe went 9-17 with a 5.05 ERA in 34 starts for the Braves (187.0 IP, 212 H, 14 HR, 70 BB, 137 K). His value to the Indians is as a consistent fifth starter who can haul innings, which has been demonstrated by him pitching 182.2 or more innings in each of the last 10 seasons. His age and his performance this past season are both a concern, but he is a low risk pick up for the rotation and at the moment solidifies the starting rotation for next season.
Earlier today the Indians announced that they picked up the 2012 $7 million club option on right-handed pitcher Fausto Carmona. With the two moves, barring injury or one of the five pitchers being traded, the opening day five man rotation should be an all right-handed rotation of Justin Masterson, Ubaldo Jimenez, Josh Tomlin, Carmona and Lowe. The pickup of Carmona's option and Lowe in a trade may allow the Indians to trade some of their young starting pitching depth, namely right-handed pitchers Jeanmar Gomez, Zach McAllister and lefty David Huff to acquire a need for the lineup.
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3 comments:
It would seem risky to trade one of our depth pitchers considering the volatility of starting pitchers.
Especially the volatility of OUR starting pitchers.
I agree there is some risk of trading our pitching depth....but the Indians have three current options of Huff/Gomez/McAllister and a next like of Kluber/Rondon/Barnes/Packer/McFarland. Not much separates any of those pitches though Gomez is the most talented of the bunch....so the Indians could afford to lose 1 or even 2 from each group. It may be the only way they will be able to get pieces for the lineup....so a risk they may have to take.
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