Rangers still stalking Mike Lowell
Posted on July 30, 2010
Filed Under 2010 Season | Leave a Comment
Mike Lowell hasn’t appeared in a game for Boston since June 22nd and he’s only gotten to start 8 games all season. Most of this is due to his old-man hip but a lot of it has to do with the deep bench that the big league club has got and the unexpected excellent performance from third-baseman Adrian Beltre.
None of this seems to matter to the Texas Rangers. As far as most people were concerned, a Max Ramirez for Mike Lowell deal was complete in December until the Rangers were unsatisfied (and for good reason) with Lowell’s physical and MRIs showing a bum hip and torn thumb ligament.
It is now 7+ months later and Mikey is coming off a rehab stint in Pawtucket where he hit .500 in 22 AB with 4 HR and 10 RBI (Oh, and a 1.727 OPS.) Yes, this is a small sample size and it is against minor league pitching but I think the man has proven that he can still hit. Almost as soon as he finished raking in AAA, rumors about the Rangers being interested in the 2007 World Series MVP have started flowing again.
Crushing it in Pawtucket
Mike Lowell can provide a strong bat for the Rangers in the stretch run but putting him at DH behind Vlad Guerrero or 3B behind Michael Young doesn’t make too much sense to me. Obviously Texas brass didn’t think Guerrero would have the monster year he is having when they were previously courting Lowell so is getting a catching prospect like Max Ramirez completely out of the picture in return for a crippled DH that will be with your team for 3 months? Unfortunately, the answer is probably yes.
If Lowell does end up going to Texas, expect diminished returns ESPECIALLY after the Rangers just acquired corner infielder Jorge Cantu to provide additional offense. Personally, I don’t believe the rumors. There is a better chance he stays with the Sox or gets dealt off for some relief help to a club that really needs some hitting (White Sox or maybe the injured Tigers?)
Comments
Leave a Reply