« NY Mets Jump Into The J-Bay Fray | Home | This Day In Baseball History: December 11th »
Sox On Verge Of Shipping Lowell To Texas
By Administrator | December 10, 2009
The Red Sox had better hope Mike Lowell’s physical exam goes well… because if it doesn’t they might get stuck with a VERY unhappy third baseman.
Lowell made it quite clear that he was hurt by the Red Sox efforts to deal him last winter. Now, here they are again making a VERY public effort to deal him again this winter.
It seems Theo & Company have no stomach for watching him again in 2010 — fearing he may be just as gimpy as he was in 2009.
And so the Red Sox have reached a tentative agreement with the Texas Rangers to ship Lowell (and $9 million) to Arlington in exchange for minor league catcher Max Ramirez — who is reputed to be a slugger but not much of a catcher. The deal is contingent on both players passing a physical exam and the deal receiving approval from the Commissioner’s Office.
Under the best of circumstances, a cash transfer of that size requires the approval of Commissioner Bud Selig… but these aren’t the best of times in Texas. Rangers owner Tom Hicks is having financial problems; thus, the team is having every financial transaction scrutinized by MLB. So the deal needs Selig’s approval for two reasons: 1) because more than $1 million will change hands, and 2) because the Rangers will pick up an additional $3 million in salary obligation.
Rangers GM Jon Daniels said that both teams still have the option of walking away from the deal, but other club executives said it is their understanding that the deal would move forward.
So we’ll just have to wait and see…
Lowell, in the Dominican Republic last weekend to attend David Ortiz’ charity golf tournament, was quoted as saying he has not “missed a single moment of sleep” because of rumors that the Sox are again trying to trade him… but at least one person who spoke with him said there was a definite edge in his voice when discussing the front office’s efforts.
It is expected that the Red Sox will make a BIG push for former LA Dodgers / Seattle Mariners 3B Adrian Beltre if the Lowell deal is consummated.
Topics: Sox Players, SoxTransactions |
