10:11pm: The Dodgers asked about Lowrie, but he's not in the current talks, tweets Buster Olney of ESPN.com. A source says that there's a 50-50 shot that Carlos Lee accepts a deal to Los Angeles for pitching prospects.
9:57pm: Dodgers' talks with Astros involve Carlos Lee, not Jed Lowrie, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter). Lee would need to a approve deal and has the right to block a deal to the Dodgers.
9:02pm: The Dodgers are talking to the Astros about a trade that would send Jed Lowrie to the Dodgers with minor-leaguers Zach Lee and Garrett Gould headed to Houston, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.com (via Twitter). One source place the odds of the deal taking place at about 50-50 right now, Olney tweets.
Sources also say that others could be involved in the talks, according to Olney (via Twitter). Lowrie would provide the Dodgers with options at shortstop and third base to go along with a power bat. The 28-year-old has a .262/.350/.492 slash line with 14 homers in 68 games this year.
Lee, 20, was the Dodgers' first-round pick in 2010 and signed with the club over attending LSU on a football scholarship. The right-hander was promoted to Double-A Chattanooga earlier this week after turning in a 4.55 ERA with 8.5 K/9 and 1.6 BB/9 in 12 California League starts in 2012.
Gould, also a right-hander, was the club's second-round pick in '09 out of Wichita, Kansas. The soon-to-be 21-year-old has made 12 starts and three relief appearances in the California League this year, posting a 5.12 ERA with 9.0 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9.
Astros should just keep him…
as a dodger fan, SMH
Wait…what? Someone lock Colleti before he does something stupid…again.
Wait. Isn’t Zach Lee like… good?
Ehh, he’s not doing that well right now, 4.03 FIP at high-A.
Not that minor league numbers mean much, but a 4 FIP in that league is just fine.
Fair enough, but I’d still like to see him do more against low-end minors competition before I truly call him good. His first AA start was a good…start.
Lowrie is also good, and cheap. Not like they are just picking up a vet who’s an impending FA. They will have to give up something quality because the Astros can just keep him affordably for the next few years.
If Luhnow can pull this off, he’s automatically one of my favorite GMs in the game.
I’m not too familiar with the Dodger’s farm system. Are Lee and Gould considered to be B-type prospects or are the stats just lower than what their potential indicates?
Yeah Zach Lee is consider a B/B+ type prospect while Gould is a solid B, Gould may have the highest upside of anyone in the system but is risky with inconsistent mechanics.
If you know anything about the California leagues, you would know that anything in the 4’s is good. They are big time hitters parks.
Zach Lee is probably considered the Dodger’s top prospect. He’s a recent first round draft pick so he’s not as far along as guys like De La Rosa, Eovaldi, Webster, etc… but he has plenty of upside. Probably not an ace, but a solid #2/#3 starter.
Gould would be in the lower top 10 of Dodger prospects, but still young with plenty of upside.
As a Dodger fan I’m not happy about giving either of them up. But we have pretty solid pitching depth in the minors. Bats are needed.
Lee is considered an A-, gold at best a C right now. its a fair trade
As a Cardinal fan who has seen the draft picks that Luhnow was a key part in selecting in St. Louis, and the fantastic draft that the Astros just had, I’m glad that the Astros are moving to the AL West. If a few of those guys pan out, they’re going to be a good team again, and soon
Hard to part with a young shortstop who hits, but given how hard a time Lowrie has had staying healthy, and how far the Astros are from winning, it makes some sense to flip him. Regardless, they get a sweet return for Melancon.
Since when is Jed Lowrie a premier shortstop?
Since Bryan LaHair is a premiere 1B
Since he is in the top five in the league in OPS, WAR, Home Runs, and RBI’s?
Half of one season means a lot.
“since like 2 months ago”
Funny, when he was a member of the Red Sox, everyone said Lowrie had great potential. Now he’s an Astro, he is over rated. funny how these boards work.
no one said he sucks. but he was traded for mark freaking melancon.
Which really says something about him because, like, the Red Sox ONLY make really intelligent moves and signings, right…?
…and Jeff Bagwell was traded for Larry freaking Anderson
He’s 8th in the NL in HR this year and in his earlier career he was league average with the bat.
Outside of Tulowitzki, Cabrera, and Hardy.. are there really any legit 20 HR bats at SS?
Jimmy Rollins, Ian Desmond, and if you’re going to include Lowrie, you have to include Aviles.
Well Jimmy, sure, I forgot about him but he’s turned it on a bit now that I’m looking up his stats. Either way, he’s making like 10MM per year, so it’s not quite the same thing.
Desmond I like, I didn’t realize he had that many on the year so far. Him and Hardy are having pretty similar seasons. I like Aviles, too, but there’s a gap there in BB%, but Aviles does in fact end up in the same place Lowrie was prior to this year: a .732 OPS, so yeah, point to you.
So 20 HR is the ultimate tool for gauging a SS’s value?
he is on a pace to hit 35 Hr at the moment not 20. Only a couple of SS in the Majors could do that. If he stay healthy, this would give the Dodgers a huge offensive present between Either and Kemp
I’m not saying he can’t just that the guy I replied to pointed out 20HR power as a legitimate measuring stick for value, while ignoring the rest of his skills.
The rest of his skills like the well-above-average plate discipline and plus defense at 2B, 3B AND SS? Those the other skills you mean?
Huh? The guy can legitimately play the position, BB rate approaching 12% and has power.
He is a legitimate middle of the order hitter who is a clear upgrade for the Dodgers at potentially three infield positions.
You’re the one who only decided to point out his power, not me. Also, he’s sitting slgihtly below-average on defense right now, at a 0.1 UZR.
There’s this guy in New York who put up worse defensive numbers than that. It worked out okay.
You’re making the silly assumption that I think Derek Jeter shouldn’t have been kicked off of SS when Rodriguez arrived, if not before. That he’s won 5 Gold Gloves is one of the most pathetic things in sports.
As a Yankee fan who’s watched a lot of games over the period A-Rod has been here, I doubt he would have been better than Jeter outside of his first couple of years here.
Umm…he’s never been a SS there. He was a good defensive SS with Texas. Maybe letting stick there would have been better for him. If anything, he certainly couldn’t have been worse.
Right.. I know. Outside of a few games, he hasn’t played much SS for us. I’m just informing you that his defense over at 3B has been kind of up and down during his tenure with us, and he had gotten a little bigger, so I’m not sure how well he would have handled SS in the long run.
Also, not for nothing, but Jeter did post several of his strongest defensive seasons at SS during this period so it’s not like it was the end of the world.
+1.5 UZR at SS in 2012, what are you looking at…?
He’s probably not looking at half of a season worth of defensive metric data, for starters.
Good trade for the Astros if it goes down. They’d replenish a very thin farm from the top in the past year if you add Lee to McMullers, Correa, Singleton and Cosart.
Springer, Santana, and Ruiz are significant prospects as well. Gould is a good high upside arm that would make their top 20 easy too.
Astros would have done the unthinkable in the span of a few months…
Bought Lowrie dirt cheap and sold him way too high…
These are not your father’s Astros…
My father’s Astros were the Colt .45’s. My father’s really old.
This would be a steal for us. Do it, Dodgers so us Astro fans can build Luhnow’s statue…
don’t you mean shrine?
More like the damn Kremlin shipped over from Russia if he actually gets a good prospect for Carlos Lee.
Jesus, just a couple months ago all the Red Sox got for Lowrie was Melancon. I know he’s having a solid year, but that’s a little much Ned
Dodger fans, how does Ned Colleti still have a job?
Many of us wonder that everyday…
This better not be true, dammit! Ned get out of here already!
Carlos Santana for Casey Blake. Smh
Zach Lee was our #1 pick. Why would we trade him for a shortstop who’s career high in home runs is the 14 he’s had this year, and is a career .255 hitter? If he trades Lee for Lowrie, he needs to go.
Yes, THIS would be the last straw. He doesn’t need to go now, because throwing together the most expensive replacement-level team in history wasn’t bad enough. But I’ll be gosh darned if this trade goes through and Coletti doesn’t get sacked.
PLease tell me that at least Carlos Lee is coming to the dodgers too…otherwise this is just classic Ned.
May have something to do with the team being in first place for almost the entire season.
Swap Zach Lee for Uribe and ya got yerself a deal!
This better not be true…i’m about to flip my lid.
Carlos Lee and Lawrie for Lee and Gould ? others involved
I wonder how Luhnow does it. If he pulls this off I would have loved to see what he could have gotten for Pence and Bourn last year. This could make it look like melancon for lee gould and weiland.
No Ned!!, if this is true he’s just asking to get fired already
i will wake up any second. DON’T DO IT NED!!! wtffffff
I hope Ned Colletti is………………..I can’t say it my comment would be deleted. This is outrageous. Someone was saying we might be getting Carlos Lee too??!?! This is so awful. There’s other ways of winning without depleting your farm for some flukey 28 year old who is having an above average 6freaking8 games……………………………………………………………………….
colletti is jim hendry with a mustache
ed wade
why would we do this trade hopefully the other involved is either Carlos Lee or Wandy Rodriguez.if its Carlos lee he can play first base while lowrie moves over to third base and our lineup gets some offensive help with some power.
Gould is a really high upside arm with some risk, this seems like a bad deal for dodgers, Lowrie has been about a league average offensive player since in the league (career wRC+ 101) he is a solid above average player but not one you use 2 of your top 5 prospects on, especially in a weak system where you need to improve your farm.
if the deal is just lowrie it would be a bad trade since we would be giving away two top pitching prospects
Rosenthal tweets that the trade is not for Jed Lowrie, but rather Carlos Lee.
Rosenthal saying that Lowrie isn’t involved, Carlos Lee is instead.
the deal should incleud both lowrie and lee
No Zach Lee involved probably if its for Carlos. Bummer. Holding out hope for a Beltran, Wheeler type trade like last year, but probably not. Lee for Lee why would LAD do that?
Because Ned Coletti. Pay attention.
Tim Brown confirms that the Dodgers and Astros are talking Carlos Lee, but says that as of now, Zach Lee is not on the table.
Carlos Lee has 5 more HRs this year than me…
Hardly the big bat the Dodgers need!
Just play James Loney if you want 8 to 12 HRs from your 1B.
Carlos Lee: .754 OPS
James Loney: .626 OPS
oh, .754?! well then! let’s move some prospects!
Bad deal for the Dodgers even if it is both Carlos Lee and Jed Lowrie. Lowrie isn’t worth Zach Lee (Gould would be OK), and Lee isn’t worth his contract… if the Dodgers are taking on Lee’s salary, Houston should pretty much be giving him away.
Kinda goes against what Kasten just said, where he would be willing to pay money instead of giving prospects. You would think Carlos Lee is more of a salary dump, so why give a prospect at all? Lowrie may have been worth one of them, but we hear that he is no longer part of the deal. And like the guy below me points out, C. Lee has 5 homeruns.. seems the Dodgers could be patient and find something better if its going to take a top prospect. And Lee still has to agree to it, which he obviously doesn’t seem to thrilled about doing.
Ned has got to be the easiest GM to fleece prospects from, no?
Kenny Williams and Ruben Amaro to some degree (although he actually acquires good players).
Apparently, Jed Lowrie and Zach Lee are not in the trade, at present.
tim brown from yahoo sports says Zach lee is not part of carlos lee deal as of now which is good since he is our top pitching prospect.
A deal might be somewhat imminent. Gould got scratched from start tonight, and Lowrie didn’t play in today’s game.
They said during the game that Lowrie was given the day off because he needed one and they were facing a lefty(he’s done his best hitting from the left side this season). He did pinch hit.
I am hearing the Dodgers are offering Gould and Chris Reed, but the Astros are pushing hard for Zach Lee.
source?
You are probably not going to buy this, but I am good friends with Zach’s uncle (he used to be my boss at a prior employer) and we have been texting back and forth.
For Lowrie or Lee?
Isn’t Carlos Lee based on his contract and declining skills have negative not positive trade?
If I was the Astros I would include Lowrie if the Dodgers included Zach Lee.
I wonder if the Dodgers send Uribe or Loney to Houston to balance Carlos Lee’s contract. Loney is from Houston, maybe he’ll do better closer to home…
Doubt they’d want him, the Astros will surely call up Wallace to takeover.
if the Astros can get rid of Carlos Lee, i don’t care what they get in return.
although Zach Lee would be nice
Bryan Lahair and Ryan Demster make more sense
You can say that again!
wow wat are the dodgers thinking !!! lee and gould for C.Lee
it’s been confirmed that Zack is not in the deal!!!!!!
Probably just Gould, which is still way too much!
Ned Colletti is brainless if he does this deal.
I wouldn’t give the Astros anything!
Isn’t he brainless regardless if he makes another horrible trade.
i am hearing that the trade will be carlos lee for garret gould per los angeles cbs
That’s acceptable, I guess.
Unacceptable!
Lee has negative trade value. Astros should “SEND” the Dodgers a prospect with Lee for the Dodgers to eat that much money for a powerless, putrid defender, who can’t run and if you look at his road splits and consider Dodger Stadium, he is an older James Loney on the road.
Carlos is gonna bring Zack Lee!!! NIIIIIICE. Lee for Lee and maybe Garrett Gould? Gould will be up in 2014…..go STROS!
We are not trading Zack Lee for Carlos Lee. It has been confirmed by Tim Brown.
Dee Gordon and a couple prospects will be in a deal for Greinke if the Dodgers get Lowrie.
The Dodgers would use Lowrie at 3B. Gordon isn’t being moved.
If Astros could pull this off, this could be huge.
It’d be nice to see them get some hitting prospects, even though they have addressed that with the Pence trade and recent draft picks.
Zach Lee would be huge and Gould is solid, as well.
Get Morneau instead.
the Astros will def stock pile Pitching since they are moving to the AL. — like the guy that says he knows someone with Zach Lee…i know the guy that dates Pam Gardner from the Stros and have friends that know Pence…we all knew last year he was getting traded to Philly before it was announced…the goal was to stock pile young pitching to compete in the AL….or in hopes to compete in the AL that is
If this is true, and the Dodgers are going to trade Zach Lee for Carlos Lee, then the next move the new Dodgers owners need to take is to find a new GM and literally behead Colletti in front of him.
Please Ned….DON’T DO IT! We don’t need another aging paperweight!
Not bad if we could see this lineup towards the end of the year..
Gordon
M. Ellis
Kemp
Ethier
Puig
Lee
A. Ellis
Hairston
Not bad if it looked like that towards the end of the season…
Gordon
M. Ellis
Kemp
Ethier
Puig
C.Lee
A. Ellis
Hairston
I’d be amazed if Puig was ready by the end of this year, Abreu should stopgap until next season.
Yeah if only Puig wasn’t at least a year away…
If Lowrie has 14 home runs in Houston, then James Loney would have 25 in a season there, and Uribe would top his 2010 number in San Francisco. You can’t judge him by what he’s hitting in a band box like Minute Made Park. He won’t hit like that at Dodger Stadium.
His splits aren’t terribly dramatic so far this season.
He has 8hr at home and 6 on the road. That’s hardly a home-park advantage to cry about.
Besides if the Dodgers passed up on every power hitter because their stats would be depressed in Dodger stadium, they’d have a team full of Loney’s and Uribe’s….. oh wait they do.
Is Jeff Luhnow using subliminal message background music when he talks to people? He’s making really difficult tasks (trading Carlos Lee, stealing Jed Lowrie, signing all his important picks) look way too easy.
Or maybe I’m still used to Ed Wade getting next to nothing useful done at all.
don’t hate on Ed to much…he did acquire 2 of the Best prospects from his beloved Phillies for the Stros to build around. Cosart and Singleton are easily top 40 of ALL Prospects in MLB right now.