Marlins hoping to deal Lowell

A trade by his Nov.1 free-agency deadline is key to the payroll.

By Joe Capozzi

 

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

 

Friday, October 15, 2004

 

The Marlins apparently are prepared to cut ties with All-Star third baseman Mike Lowell, although the timing remains unclear.

 

Lowell was a chief topic this week at the team's annual organizational meetings, during which the Marlins discussed ways to free themselves of the $34 million contract he signed nearly a year ago, a source said.

 

The Marlins would prefer to trade Lowell but that would have to happen before Nov. 1, when he becomes eligible for free agency if the team has not yet reached a deal to build a new stadium.

 

The Marlins are $30 million short of the financing they want for a new ballpark. The four-year contract Lowell signed Dec. 3 will change drastically if the Marlins fail to get that final chunk of money by Nov. 1.

 

If the stadium financing is completed in the next 17 days ? which seems unlikely ? Lowell, 30, would be locked into the final three years of the contract.

 

But if the Marlins fail to reach a ballpark deal by Nov. 1, Lowell would hold a $7.5 million option to return to the Marlins in 2005 or become a free agent. If that happens, the Marlins could trade him at any time next season. The last two years, worth $8 million each to Lowell, would be erased from the contract.

 

Lowell, who received $6.5 million in 2004, could not be reached Thursday. He would have from Nov. 1 to Nov. 6 to file for free agency. Although he grew up in Miami and is comfortable in Coral Gables, people close to him believe he is ready to test free agency. Lowell joined the Marlins in a trade from the Yankees in February 1999.

 

The Marlins, who also face the prospect of losing free-agent pitchers Carl Pavano and Armando Benitez, would benefit financially if Lowell became a free agent because it would free up $7.5 million from the payroll in 2005.

 

The Marlins are prepared to move left fielder Miguel Cabrera to third base, where he is more comfortable, and use the baseball winter meetings in December to seek a left fielder, preferably one with power from the left side of the plate.

 

Marlins President David Samson said the team would talk to Lowell and his agent by the end of the month. A team source said those talks probably would be during the World Series.

 

"I've been doing a lot of stadium work trying to get this (stadium deal) done. That to me is the No. 1 issue on the plate,'' Samson said.

 

Although Samson wouldn't get into the specifics of Lowell's contract, he hinted that the team is optimistic about getting the final $30 million in ballpark money after Nov. 1.

 

"If we don't have a stadium by Nov. 1,'' he said, "does that mean the Marlins are going to move? I don't think so.''

 

The Marlins proposed the stadium clause in Lowell's contract last December because they said revenue from a new park would be the only way they could afford to pay Lowell for the life of the four-year deal.

 

"Without a new stadium, there is no Mike Lowell on the Florida Marlins. There would not be the revenue," Samson said at the time. "We're going to know well before the November deadline whether or not it's a four-year deal."

 

Manuel to Marlins? Former White Sox manager Jerry Manuel is on a list of candidates the Marlins are considering to replace bench coach Doug Davis, who was fired at the end of the season.

 

Manuel was Marlins bench coach for manager Jim Leyland in 1997.

 

Former Phillies manager Admin Bowa has said in TV and radio interviews that three teams have shown interest in him. He did not say if the Marlins were one of those teams, but Marlins manager Jack McKeon talked informally with Bowa about the job when Bowa was fired Oct. 2.

 

Bowa, speaking Thursday on Sporting News Radio, said of his job prospects: "Hopefully, it will be somewhere that will be in the National League East and maybe get a little revenge against the Phillies."

 

Retired catcher Joe Girardi and former coach Harry Dunlop, 71, also are being considered by the Marlins.

 

Former Phillies pitching coach Joe Kerrigan and former Baltimore Orioles pitching coach Mark Wiley are among Florida's candidates to replace pitching coach Wayne Rosenthal, who was fired at the end of the season

I honestly do not expect Mike Lowell to be in a Marlins uniform next year.

 

Haha Joe Girardi for bench coach!

Retired catcher Joe Girardi and former coach Harry Dunlop, 71, also are being considered by the Marlins.

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I would like to see Joe Girardi as a Marlin. Not sure in what position, though.

So sad that we might not keep Mike. It would have been great for him to spend his entire career here but that never happens anymore :plain

I like Mike Lowell but i wouldnt miss him...Get Cabs in at 3rd and get a good OF to fill in his spot and with the extra money Get Pavano and Benitez signed...IMO everytime i saw lowell this year he didnt seem to be giving it 100%...the guy only had like 85 rbi's this year that not what a 3rd baseman of his talent should be putting up...

I would love to see Mike in a Marlins Uni next year but I think he is going to be gone :thumbdown

I like Mike Lowell but i wouldnt miss him...Get Cabs in at 3rd and get a good OF to fill in his spot and with the extra money Get Pavano and Benitez signed...IMO everytime i saw lowell this year he didnt seem to be giving it 100%...the guy only had like 85 rbi's this year that not what a 3rd baseman of his talent should be putting up...

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You aren't going to sign both Pavy and Benitez AND get a "good" OF for 7.5 million, that's prob not even enough to sign Pavy. That would afford Benitez + OFer.

You know, I'm a huge Lowell fan, but his second half slumps are getting to be a bit too much. The guy had All-Star numbers at the break and ended with 85 rbi's. Let's get Cabs at 3rd and get a decent left handed hitting left fielder. It doesn't necessarily have to be an 8 million dollar player. We can probably get someone decent for half of that.

I think we could trade Lowell, even though I wouldn't like to. We can get something good for him and we always have Cabrera for 3rd base, where he is more comfortable rather than the outfield..

Eh.. I think about whether or not I'd be scared to face a guy if we traded him. I (well, not me, but you know what I mean) wouldn't be that scared to face Mikey beyond May, sorry, seeya.

Given that we can only "trade" Lowell under certain circumstances, and combined with Caberra's desire to get back into the infield, Lowell's chronic underacheiving in the second half of the season and the iffy status of stadium should Morales be victorious, it seems to me that trading Lowell is almost a no-brainer.

 

The important consideration is compensation. Allowing him to test free agency means the Fish will get substantially less for Lowell (in major league ready value) in return. Trade him ASAP for a player who can contribute to the team's 2005 success and we have a better chance at re-signing a Pavano or a Benitez.

 

The real question is, who needs a third baseman and quality (albeit low-priced) talent they are willing to trade in exchange?

Does anyone know which good-hitting, left-handed, outfielders might be available for this trade?

maybe someone like adam dunn, i doubt Cinci will trade him though.

Does anyone know which good-hitting, left-handed, outfielders might be available for this trade?

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My sentiments exactly. :thumbup

Teams that can spend and need 3B's:

 

- Dodgers if Beltre can't be re-signed

 

- Baltimore could move Mora back to the OF to make room for a Lowell

 

- Tigers could use a 3B

 

- Angels could go after a Lowell if they don't re-sign Glaus and think McPherson is more of a DH

 

- Seattle has $ and needs one

trading lowell SUCKS!!!!!

 

anyway, trade him to an AL team...

 

if we cant get an OF'er who can produce, are offense will take a big hit, and face it..its already on life support :lol

 

pudge= gone

 

lee= gone

 

now soon to be lowell....

 

all i got to say is watch out castillo...........

 

 

:thumbdown

My guess is YES

u ppl are all hypocrites. every one of u. b4 this came up everyone was saying lowell must stay. now that it appears closer that he might not be here u all come up with reasons why we dont need him and that we should trade him. hes top 5 3b in MLB and u are all throwing him out like garbage. bandwagoners.yea i said it.

I now want to vomit.

 

Does any one still want to debate that I have every right as a season ticketholder to be pissed off. We're now talking openly about trimming payroll by trading our second best hitter. No matter how much I was frustrated by his second half struggles he is still an elite 3B, behind only Rolen, ARod and debatably Beltre. He isn't as hyped as some of the other guys, but day in and day out he makes the plays that have to be made defensively and he can contribute offensively (although that is getting rarer).

 

This isn't a baseball decision we're making, it's an economic decision, but we've already decided to bump season ticket prices to nausiatingly high levels. f*** this ownership. We had a chance to keep the greatest catcher of our generation and instead we opted for Lowell, now we don't have Pudge, and soon we won't have Lowell, do we even have a plan we're going to stick to?

 

 

I really am not too happy with the Marlins right now.

 

 

Brace yourselves for a very very very bad offseason.

I now want to vomit.

 

Does any one still want to debate that I have every right as a season ticketholder to be pissed off. We're now talking openly about trimming payroll by trading our second best hitter. No matter how much I was frustrated by his second half struggles he is still an elite 3B, behind only Rolen, ARod and debatably Beltre. He isn't as hyped as some of the other guys, but day in and day out he makes the plays that have to be made defensively and he can contribute offensively (although that is getting rarer).

 

This isn't a baseball decision we're making, it's an economic decision, but we've already decided to bump season ticket prices to nausiatingly high levels. f*** this ownership. We had a chance to keep the greatest catcher of our generation and instead we opted for Lowell, now we don't have Pudge, and soon we won't have Lowell, do we even have a plan we're going to stick to?

 

 

I really am not too happy with the Marlins right now.

 

 

Brace yourselves for a very very very bad offseason.

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i agree. i was one of the ones dissapointed with pudge leaving,while everyone was saying well we get to keep lowell!!... well i say to those, now what? no lowell,no pudge,no lee. prepare yourselves

I can't believe how many people are undervaluing Lowell. So many people willing to get rid of Lowell, who has been a great player for this team for so many years, and most of those same people unwilling to get rid of Lo Duca who has been with this team only a half a year, and underperformed for us and will be overpaid next year. Lowell's our 2nd best hitter. You take him out of the lineup and our only home run threat is Cabs. Making our biggest weakness even weaker.

There is something missing here. Between 11/1 and 11/6 lowell can choose to be a free agent or have a one year deal worth $7.5 million (since the stadium deal will not be finalized before 11/1). If he is traded before 11/1 can he opt for free agency and/or force the team he is traded to into extending his contract?

 

Lowell has significant value with a one year deal @ $7.5 million, but if he is going to force a team into an extension his value goes down significantly.

 

I think the entire issue here is that Lowell does not want to play next season on a one year deal if the stadium negotiations negate the last two years of the deal. He wants more financial security. The marlins probably do not want to extend him and that is the reason you are hearing rumblings from lowell's camp that he will test free agency.

 

What is the Trade status of Lowell's contract?

 

BTW, It is not an issue of whether we can sign a LF, pavano and benitez for $7.5 million but rather how much we can save with Cabrera at 3b and another player in LF. For example, the Reds are going to try and teach Austin Kearns how to play 3B this off season. If we could get Kearns, Pena or Casey for lowell we would save money to use helping to resign pavano. With casey, dunn would play 1b for the reds and conine would play lf for us. Casey makes about the same money but is a lefty. Kearns and pena would both save big money for the marlins and are young studs but i doubt the reds could take the additional salary of lowell when only trading kearns or pena. maybe if they add graves $6 million contract? What is better value? Lowell or kearns/pena and graves? Graves would be pretty good in our pitchers park teamed with Mota.

I think we should of traded him before this season when his value was the highest. Now its likely hes had his best season, everyone knows this, and his contract his far too big.

I can't believe how many people are undervaluing Lowell. So many people willing to get rid of Lowell, who has been a great player for this team for so many years, and most of those same people unwilling to get rid of Lo Duca who has been with this team only a half a year, and underperformed for us and will be overpaid next year. Lowell's our 2nd best hitter. You take him out of the lineup and our only home run threat is Cabs. Making our biggest weakness even weaker.

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I have to agree with you here. Not only is he one of our best hitters (despite his second half slump he still performed better than most of the team) he's also a fan favorite and a local guy who the fans like. We can't keep trading away our stars if we want attendance to get better.

Don't jump to conclusions. We know Lowell met with management last week. Perhaps he expressed his desire to test the market. Perhaps we were going to lose him anyway. There's no reason to assume that the FO is hanging him out to dry.