Phillies in Running for SP Derek Lowe?
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An MLB rumor notes that Dodger veteran free agent Derek Lowe is still being courted by several teams including the the Mets and the Phillies.
Yahoo’s sports rumors cites a SI.com report;
The Phillies have shown interest in the 35-year-old right-hander, along with the Braves, Red Sox, Brewers and Angels. The Mets made an offer at about three years, $36 million, which Jon Heyman said Lowe “isn’t seriously considering,” leaving the door open for other suitors.
Lowe, 14-11 with a 3.24 ERA in 34 starts for the Dodgers in 2008, is said to be seeking $16 million per year — which makes the Mets’ offer a bit too low. The fact Philadelphia would come up in rumors to acquire a pricy starting pitcher is quite surprising, considering it has already absorbed most of its payroll for 2009 — expected to be slightly higher than 2008’s club-record $104 million — with current player contracts and potential arbitration cases.
But the acquisition of Lowe would give the Phillies a very potent top of the rotation, along with left-hander and World Series MVP Cole Hamels. The other three spots in the rotation will be filled by Brett Myers, Joe Blanton and Jamie Moyer.
One thing is sure, an acquisition of Derek Lowe makes the Phillies starting rotation one of the most potent in all of MLB. The Phils are already THE TEAM TO BEAT and an acquisition like Lowe would make them even more imposing.
Granted, the team will be without its prime lefthanded set-up man in April and May with JC Romero serving a 50 game suspension for use of a banned substance (which will be dealt with in a separate post), but the Phils still have veteran lefthanded reliever Scott Eyre, who was not-too-shabby in 19 2nd half games and in the post-season and young lefthander JA Happ who can relieve in a pinch in lefthanded situational relief roles until Romero’s return.
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