The Red Sox have close to a full lineup of players on the disabled list, but the forgotten man in that group seems to be third baseman Mike Lowell. Prior to hitting the shelf with soreness in his surgically repaired hip, the 36-year-old Lowell hit just .213/.308/.350 in very sporadic playing time due to the presence of Adrian Beltre and Kevin Youkilis, plus David Ortiz's resurgence.
Lowell told ESPNBoston.com's Gordon Edes he has given up hope that the team will release him so he can find work elsewhere.
"I don’t know if it’s specifically because I might beat them, I just don’t think they want me to go to another team while they pay my salary,’’ Lowell said. “At this point, they’re not going to get anything [in a trade]. You’re going to get a subpar prospect at best. There’s too much time left in the season, they’re not going to get money."
There is still $5.3MM left on Lowell's contract this season, after which he'll be a free agent. In his own words, Lowell will "clear waivers in two seconds" because of that salary, so the July 31st trade deadline doesn't really apply to him. The Red Sox can let his market develop in August if they want.
Lowell did back off when asked about retirement, telling WEEI.com's DJ Bean that he's "thinking short term" for the time being. Back in April he indicated that he'd almost certainly call it a career after this season.
The immediate plan is for Lowell to get a cortisone shot in his hip on Monday, then head to Triple-A Pawtucket for a rehab assignment beginning Thursday. He expects the shot to help with flexibility, and Brian MacPherson of The Providence Journal says it could even allow him to play in 2011.
Despite his injury and ineffectiveness, several teams remain interested in acquiring the former World Series MVP. The Rangers have been connected to Lowell more than any other team, but the Twins, Angels, Mariners, and White Sox have also popped up as potential suitors this season. Regardless of who acquires him, the Red Sox will almost certainly have to pick up most of his salary.
Just release him. At least he can help some other team.
I would be very disappointed if the Red Sox don’t release him straight after the trade deadline.
these articles on lowell are getting painful to read, i can’t believe boston won’t do him a favour, he seem so miserable
Lowell is still physically hurting. He just had a another cortisone shot in his hip this weekend. He’s not currently able to help out ANY team because he’s physically not able to. If the Red Sox released an injured player, they’d be getting crap for that too.
The Red Sox are in a no-win position in this scenario too; whatever they do, they’re looking like the bad guy or making a move that could potentially come back to haunt them (paying Lowell’s salary to play for another contender and seeing nothing in return). It sucks to hear Lowell sound defeated but his body breaking down is the biggest reason the Sox couldn’t move him earlier/sooner. (Remember, they had that deal all but done with Texas in Spring Training for Max Ramirez but justified concerns about Lowell’s health nixed that. Texas was right not to pull the trigger; Lowell would be on the DL for them now too had they done that deal.)
Lowell needs to do Boston a favor and just retire. With all the injuries they’ve had, Lowell could’ve gotten his at bats if he just shut his mouth and stayed healthy. If he had been playing well, he would’ve been traded already. Let’s not forget it was his not reporting his injury immediately that voided his trade to Texas last December. Lowell was a great champion for the Sox, but clearly this is his doing at least as much as theirs.
As a Sox fan, I cringe whenever I read an article on Lowell now. It’s really too bad, he’s still so loved here.
It’s a horrible way to end his time here, but the Sox have a right to try and get at least something back, either a bit of his salary or a slightly useful player.
Also, it’s pretty unprofessional for him to be making comments like this, especially coming out and saying that even he wouldn’t give the Sox anything for him. These comments are tantamount to demanding his release. It’s not like he isn’t being paid….
This whole thing could have been avoided, and Mike would have been a hero if he just retired. But 12 million is hard to walk away from. Those who say its not about the money it really is.
seriously why dont they just release him, who cares if he hurts you in the play off, he probably wont…he probably wont sign to a team due to the fact that he would have to pass a physical and there would probably be terms in his new contract that allows the team to cut him right away at the first sign of injury. The bosox not releasing him is doing nothing but hurt him, no matter what they have to pay him so why let him suck up a spot on the 40 man and the 25 man rosters
Based on the front office position, I predict he absolutely will not ever be released. He will end the season on the DL and on the payroll unless someone offers to pick up part of his salary. No one will get him for free. There is absolutely nothing unfair about that. Mike has it within his power to retire at any time. Other teams have it within their power to obtain Mike’s services for pure cash at any time. We’ve done the honorable thing and paid the man all along. We owe him and other teams nothing more. I care if he hurts us in the playoffs. I care if other contenders get our guy, on our payroll, for free. Lowell is not taking up a 25-man roster spot. He’s on the 15-day DL and could easily be moved to the 60-day DL, where he wouldn’t even consume a 40-man roster spot. There is simply no good reason to let another team walk off with him without some form of compensation.
I wish they signed me for 12million per year and let me stay on the dl all season -_-
Me too. Just one time would suit me fine for life.
Since turnabout is fair play, I guess I should say: “Geez, Mike, why won’t you retire? You’re all washed up, old and physically falling apart. Your never gonna be able to play ML-quality baseball again. Letting us save $5.3MM would be especially awesome because it would practically remove any chance of us having to pay a luxury tax for this season’s payroll. Just go ahead and retire, Mike, pretty please?”
They probably are able to collect more insurance money if he stays on DL and than if they clear him from the DL and release him.
They owe the guy 5 plus million not any dam favors. He’s clearly not a tradeable asset at this point; and who knows, with all of their injuries they might just need the guy down the stretch run.
Ya, he’s hurt, he’s old and he’s been unproductive dating back to this time last year. Don’t feel bad for the guy; he’s made a TON of money in his career. He’s got the cash and two rings. His contract states that he is the property of the Red Sox till the end of this year and they can and should do what they want with him.
if that means pay him to sit on their own bench/DL; it’s better than paying him to play for or sit on someone elses DL.
They owe the guy 5 plus million not any dam favors. He’s clearly not a tradeable asset at this point; and who knows, with all of their injuries they might just need the guy down the stretch run.
Ya, he’s hurt, he’s old and he’s been unproductive dating back to this time last year. Don’t feel bad for the guy; he’s made a TON of money in his career. He’s got the cash and two rings. His contract states that he is the property of the Red Sox till the end of this year and they can and should do what they want with him.
if that means pay him to sit on their own bench/DL; it’s better than paying him to play for or sit on someone elses DL.
Waive the rest of your contract, Mikey, and see how fast the Sox kick you to the curb. Taking your millions on the one hand, then taking shots at the Sox on the other, when you can’t play anymore, really shows me who the REAL Mike Lowell is. I never did buy that “sign MIke Lowell, Series MVP” crap. That’s like getting all jiggy for being named the All-Star MVP because someone hit a triple when everybody else hit singles. A couple of hits in a game or two doesn’t make you a superstar, worth millions. If I’m the Sox, I tell Lowell to shut up or go home.
Waive the rest of your contract, Mikey, and see how fast the Sox kick you to the curb. Taking your millions on the one hand, then taking shots at the Sox on the other, when you can’t play anymore, really shows me who the REAL Mike Lowell is. I never did buy that “sign MIke Lowell, Series MVP” crap. That’s like getting all jiggy for being named the All-Star MVP because someone hit a triple when everybody else hit singles. A couple of hits in a game or two doesn’t make you a superstar, worth millions. If I’m the Sox, I tell Lowell to shut up or go home.