Kyle Lohse is in the midst of arguably his best season as a Major Leaguer, and the 33-year-old right-hander is open to discussing a mid-season extension to stay in St. Louis, writes MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch. The Cardinals, however, have yet to approach Lohse with such an offer, according to Langosch.
According to numerous metrics, Lohse is in the midst of a career year. His ERA (2.79), K/BB ratio (3.30), BB/9 (1.6) and FIP (3.56) are all single-season bests for Lohse. His 23 starts tie him for the most in the National League, and his 148 1/3 innings are ninth-most in all of baseball.
Lohse is in the final season of a four-year, $41MM contract extension that he signed late in the 2008 season. Then 29 years old, Lohse passed on the opportunity to test the free agent market following a season that he would finish with a 3.78 ERA in exactly 200 innings. It was a surprising move at the time, especially considering the fact that Lohse is represented by Scott Boras. It would be arguably even more surprising this time around, as this could mark Lohse's last opportunity for a significant contract.
Lohse told Langosch and other reporters that his priority, should he reach free agency, is winning:
"Every year the focus is on winning," Lohse said. "We're not trying to develop something. We're trying to win. With my situation, that's what I'm looking for. If I do go to free agency, they will still be in the mix, I'm sure. But there will be other places to look, too."
Earlier today, Buster Olney suggested that Lohse could approach Mark Buehrle's four-year, $58MM contract if he were to hit the open market. I share Ben Nicholson-Smith's skepticism that Lohse would reach such a lofty sum, given that he lacks Buehrle's durability and consistent track record. However, Boras has worked surprising free agent deals in the past.
If he were to hit free agency, Lohse would join a solid free agent class that includes Zack Greinke, Anibal Sanchez, Brandon McCarthy, Edwin Jackson and Ryan Dempster.
I think that Kyle Lohse should wait it out. I can see this guy going to The Yankees.
Hope the cards keep Loshe. Always a big fan!!
The problem with signing Lohse long term is that you will be blocking Miller or Martinez. The rotation is setting up to be Wainwright, Garcia, Lynn, Miller, Martinez in the next couple of years. However, no one knows what will happen with Carp, so if we could get Lohse for like 2 years 25 million, that would give us the rest of Lohse’s prime and rotational depth without a logjam.
Yeah. But I still have a feeling cards will trade miller at the end of season because we will have Martinez and wacha ready in a year or two. We don’t need 3 good pitching prospects
Umm… I don’t think you can have too many good pitching prospects. And Wacha is at least 3 years away. The Cards don’t rush players through the minors which is why they have the most WS wins in National League history and have won 33% of the last 6. And Miller will make his MLB debut as a Redbird. No doubt about it.
I wouldn’t mind the phillies giving lohse a 3/36 contract if they decided to trade lee this offseason(which I think they should to fill numerous holes). My first choice would be brandon mccarthy cause I belive they could get him cheaper due to the injury history and also I think hes easily the best pitcher of the bunch when healthy, excluding greinke of course. Halladay, hamels, mccarthy/lohse, worley, tyler cloyd would still be one of the best rotations in the nl and we would still have plenty of money to upgrade the offense at a couple of positions. Even being able to sign atleast one top guy in bourn or someone else not named hamilton. Also woupd like to sign youkilis to a 2yr deal to fill the black hole at third base if we are unable to trade for headley.
Lohse is a good pitcher and the cards are a good team. Good luck to the cards the rest of the way. I still thino they can make the playoffs as a wild card. Dont think pirates or cards will cqtch the reds for the division but who knows after their late rally last year. Good luck cardinal fans!!!
i don’t think the phillies want to go down the Lohse road again. Not too successful the first time around, though he is a different pitcher. Anyways they can’t keep giving contracts to starting pitchers, time to develop some cheap arms. Lee at 20+mil, Halladay at 20+mil, Hamels at 20+ mil, and lohse at 12mil? When do you draw the line?
But didn’t you see that I said only if they decide to trade lee that I would I would sign mccarthy or lohse.. No way would I do it if they didnt trade lee. And yeah lohse is a totallh different and better pitcher now then he was with us. They are gonna go for it next year and a rotation with hamelss, halladay,(who will be coming off a bad and unhealthy season) worley(who also isnt having a good year compqred to 2011), cloyd(who will be a rookie that’s never faced big league hitters) and kendrick(who is what he is which is a guy who will pitch to an era of 4.00-4.25, maybe a tiny bit lower at best). That just wont get it done for a team looking to be a contender. A siging of lohse or mccarthy would solidify the rotation for sure. Also, like I said id rather have mccarthy who is much btter when healthy and would come cheaper and at less years because of injury history. Hes at the top of my list for free agent signings next year honestly.
What I would do was first sign melky cabrera to 4/44-48 and if he doesnt come get bourn for around 4/58-62 then trade cliff lee(hopefully to the rangers for mike olt and even add one year of his contract in and givlnhem 25 million if they insist on not taking the whole contract). That would then solve third base without paying anyone since olt would be the minimum. Then I would go sign mccarthy if not lohse woule be second choice and third choice would be anibal sanchez since hes likely to make the most out of the three and I dont really think hes better then mccarthy and only a little better then lohse.. Then sign a righthanded power bat to plqtoon with lance nix in leftfield.next season because mayberry has to friggin go!! Maybe ludwick?? Or maybe they can sign swisher as the everyday righfielder wince they got under the luxury tax thie season and they can go over for the first time which they have kinda hinted at they might do(especially if cliff lee does stay). Then finally revamp the entire bullpen with good pieces!!!. This team would be a very good team that could competer for the division and most likely atleast get a WC, barring injuries to utley an howard coming into the friggin season again! But thats just my opinion and im no gm.
Sorry for rambling on also haha
Oh yeah also forgot to say dom brown would be playing one of the outfeild positions. Cf most likely if they get melky and a corner spot if they get bourn…
Ill shutup now lol
I don’t know-it’s usually not good business to give a long term contract right after the career year. I mean it’s called a career year for a reason.
Is it at all a coincidence that Lohse is open to mid season extension after the rumors of a possible market for him at around 4 years, 15ish per?
I don’t think so.
thats not a rumor. Thats just people guestimating what his contract might look like. Big difference.
And its crazy. $15mil for Kyle Lohse is just absurd. Love the guy, have been a supporter/defender of him since he got to St Louis, but that Money is crazy.
He wants to come back team friendly then sure, but with all the young Pitching we have in our system we are coming from a position of strength, and not desprate to keep him here.
I wouldn’t go any longer than a 3-year deal. Even then, I’d say a 2 year deal with a mutual option would be safer. I’d gladly re-sign Lohse for 2 years/$30 mil with a third-year option, but 4 years/$55 mil +? No thanks
Getting Lohse for the next couple years at around $11-12 M is reasonable, but everyone needs to remember that a certain Wainwright is coming up on his walk year. He’s the next big extension the team needs to address. Someone will throw buckets of money at Lohse in the offseason, he’s likely as good as gone.