Boston Hits Trade Market

Everyone who covers baseball has said that the Boston Red Sox would make a strong push this off season to acquire San Diego Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. The question has been what do you do with Kevin Youkilis and Mike Lowell then if you get Gonzalez. Well according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi the Sox are doing what they can to address that problem.

The duo reports that general manager Theo Epstein is entertaining offers for Lowell. Actually, he’s calling around to see if anyone his willing to take him. Supposedly, Boston is so desperate to trade him they’re willing to pay up to half of his $12 million salary.

Unfortunately for them I don’t see how any team would be willing to make that deal. Any team that trades with the Sox probably wouldn’t have to give up anything of value but still who’d want an over-rated, washed up major leaguer at $6 million.

A rival executive told FOXSports that he’d be surprised if the Sox would find anyone to pay him $6 million. I’d agree.

Red Sox Nation would argue that Lowell is still productive, just look at his stats. To a point they’re correct, he batted .290 with 17 homers, 75 rbis and 29 doubles. Once you look at his splits thou you realize he’s washed up.

Playing in the hitter friendly Fenway park he went .307 with 12 homers, 45 rbis and 20 of those doubles. On the road? .276 with 5 homers, 30 rbis and 9 doubles. What makes those numbers even worse? He had 47 more at bats on the road then at home.

So yea he can still hit when in the friendly confines of Fenway but outside of it, he’s not worth shit.

He used to be one of the better defenders in the league but rated as one of MLB’s worst at third base this past season due to his decreased range. So basically, what team would be willing to pay around $6 million for someone who can’t hit and can’t field? Not sure. Baltimore maybe?

It’s no surprise thou that Boston is going to such drastic levels to try and trade the guy. If they want to add Gonzalez they’re going to have to cut a little payroll somewhere and trading Lowell would do that. Trading Lowell would also prevent the Sox from having to put Youkilis in left, a position he can play but they’d prefer he not.

I applaud Epstein for trying to make some changes but he’s going to have to get more creative if he wants Lowell to disappear.