MIAMI -- Like so many in the organization, Mike Lowell was cautiously optimistic last spring that the Marlins would finally get that last bit of state funding to complete a stadium deal that would have secured the long-term stability of the franchise.

 

As it turned out, Lowell's future with the Marlins hinged on the club getting a new park.

 

The state's political leaders, however, had a different vision than assisting the Marlins' efforts to secure a stadium. In May, the Florida Legislature rejected a $60 million sales tax rebate that would have been paid at a $2 million a year clip for 30 years.

 

That rejection ultimately led to the Marlins' 38,000-seat retractable-roof stadium deal next to the Orange Bowl collapsing.

 

With no new facility on the horizon, the Marlins are drastically slashing payroll. On Thursday night, Lowell found himself part of the fallout as he was officially traded to the Red Sox.

 

The blockbuster deal sent Lowell and pitchers Josh Beckett and Guillermo Mota to the Red Sox for Minor Leaguers Hanley Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez, Jesus Delgado and Harvey Garcia.

 

"I'd say I'm very excited," Lowell said Friday. "On a scale of one to 10, it's about an 11. I think the situation is good. The ball park is good."

 

Lowell quickly pointed out that's not to say all his experiences as a Marlin were bad.

 

"Some of my best memories and best moments of my whole life are in a Marlins uniform," Lowell said.

 

The 31-year-old grew up in the Miami area, playing high school ball at Coral Gables High School and college ball at Florida International University.

 

A three-time All-Star, Lowell won his first Gold Glove this season even though he had his worst year at the plate, batting .236 with eight home runs and 58 RBIs.

 

Still, Lowell departs at the Marlins' all-time leader in home runs (143), RBIs (578) and doubles (241).

 

With two years remaining on his contract, Lowell's $18 million was too much for the Marlins to absorb. So he found himself on the trading block, and the Red Sox are picking up the remainder of his contract.

 

Had the Marlins gotten their new stadium, his situation might have been different.

 

This year Lowell thought there was enough money and momentum to get the stadium done. The Marlins, the City of Miami and Miami-Dade County combined to put forth all but about $45 million to complete the project. All sides were hopeful the state would help seal the deal.

 

"I thought this time once there was hard money set out by the city and the county and the Marlins," Lowell said. "I thought the state would bridge the gap. From what I know, what the Marlins were asking [from the state] is what every other professional sports team in the state received. They were asking for an equal share and I think they should have gotten it. In that sense, I think they got a little bit of a raw deal."

 

The Marlins were asking for the same rebate that other teams like the Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Miami Heat, Florida Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars received.

 

It didn't happen, so now the Marlins are considering relocation options.

 

South Florida will remain home for Lowell, even after he retires. Should the Marlins leave the state, it would sadden the veteran third baseman, who hopes when he retires to attend Major League games with his father.

 

"For me it's a disappointment, because selfishly I know Miami will be my home," Lowell said.

 

As a child, Lowell went to two big-league games with his dad. Both were on visits to New York. At age eight, Lowell saw a game at Yankee Stadium and at 11 he went to Shea Stadium.

 

Lowell understands the predicament Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria is in, losing money in a low revenue-generating stadium.

 

"I really believe Jeffrey Loria has put up a valid commitment, and I really think he was banking on a stadium," Lowell said.

 

He added that it is tough to see the Marlins trade off their established players because he feels the organization has the talent to remain competitive for years.

 

Now going to a hitters' park like Fenway, Lowell is hopeful he will regain his swing and be the productive player he was in the past. His troubles in 2005 were the result of an incredibly slow start. He grew impatient at the plate, and made numerous batting-stance adjustments.

 

Asked if he can be the hitter he was in the past, Lowell responded: "That's what I'm out to prove. I think I dug myself too deep a hole early. Looking back, maybe I should have stayed with the same things I was doing. But I'm impatient with myself when things aren't going well."

 

Ironically, in Interleague Play, the Marlins will face the Red Sox next season at Dolphins Stadium.

 

What kind of reception can he expect?

 

"I hope when they announce my name that I get a nice ovation because I only have admiration for this place," Lowell said. "I have no regrets. I enjoyed my time as a Florida Marlin immensely."

 

 

http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/...t=.jsp&c_id=fla

I'll stand and cheer Mike and Josh when they return next summer!

I really want to root for you Mikey, but I just cant. Your offensive struggles are a big reason for this semi-firesale and I cannot be happy for you and your wish to revitalize your career. All you had to do is play like a 7.5 million dollar player, hell I would've taken a 2 million dollar player. Instead you decided to not show up to a season that had so much promise and didn't need you to be the offensive man, but just a steady complement. Mike Lowell should take a lot of blame for the 2005 team never amounting to much, as well as Josh Beckett now calling Boston home. Beckett was part of the future for this organization, but because of him and his ridiculous contract, we had to ship him away...

 

Thank you Mike Lowell for everything....the 30 home run seasons. the World Championships, and the major assist in getting out Texas flamethrower traded away.

 

Do me a favor and play even worse for the BoSox next year, they don't deserve the Mike Lowell of the early 2000s, not after they took advantage of a small market team!!!

You act like he did it on purpose.

 

I'll root for Lowell to have a big 06.

Fact or Fiction: Mike Lowell is THE reason that Josh Beckett is in a Red Sox uniform right now

Fact or Fiction: Mike Lowell is THE reason that Josh Beckett is in a Red Sox uniform right now

 

 

FACT :plain

I really want to root for you Mikey, but I just cant. Your offensive struggles are a big reason for this semi-firesale and I cannot be happy for you and your wish to revitalize your career. All you had to do is play like a 7.5 million dollar player, hell I would've taken a 2 million dollar player. Instead you decided to not show up to a season that had so much promise and didn't need you to be the offensive man, but just a steady complement. Mike Lowell should take a lot of blame for the 2005 team never amounting to much, as well as Josh Beckett now calling Boston home. Beckett was part of the future for this organization, but because of him and his ridiculous contract, we had to ship him away...

 

Thank you Mike Lowell for everything....the 30 home run seasons. the World Championships, and the major assist in getting out Texas flamethrower traded away.

 

Do me a favor and play even worse for the BoSox next year, they don't deserve the Mike Lowell of the early 2000s, not after they took advantage of a small market team!!!

 

 

 

Imagine if we had kept DLee instead of Lowell after '03 and spent the Delgado cash on a power hitting LF... hindsight is 20/20.

 

Lowell did win a Gold Glove last year. It counts for something, but he wasn't worth much more than a a million or so.

I'm gonna go to the red sox games just to cheer him on and Josh, they will always be two of my favorite marlins.

Fact or Fiction: Mike Lowell is THE reason that Josh Beckett is in a Red Sox uniform right now

 

 

This is an easy one... FACT. No way we trade Josh otherwise.

Fact or Fiction: Mike Lowell is THE reason that Josh Beckett is in a Red Sox uniform right now

 

 

You've got to credit Beinfest and the FO for this as well. Remember they had the opportunity to turn Lowell's contract into a 1 year deal last year. And this was after he already had an abysmal 2nd half of 2004. The FO should have seen this coming? The thought signing Lowell long term and acquiring Delgado would create enough good will to complete the stadium deal. Obviously it didn't work.

 

So I look at is as several factors that resulted in Lowell and Beckett being shipped out together.

Fact or Fiction: Mike Lowell is THE reason that Josh Beckett is in a Red Sox uniform right now

 

 

You've got to credit Beinfest and the FO for this as well. Remember they had the opportunity to turn Lowell's contract into a 1 year deal last year. And this was after he already had an abysmal 2nd half of 2004. The FO should have seen this coming? The thought signing Lowell long term and acquiring Delgado would create enough good will to complete the stadium deal. Obviously it didn't work.

 

So I look at is as several factors that resulted in Lowell and Beckett being shipped out together.

I could be wrong, but I thought Lowell was the one who decided what to do with his contract last year, not the FO.

Fact or Fiction: Mike Lowell is THE reason that Josh Beckett is in a Red Sox uniform right now

 

 

You've got to credit Beinfest and the FO for this as well. Remember they had the opportunity to turn Lowell's contract into a 1 year deal last year. And this was after he already had an abysmal 2nd half of 2004. The FO should have seen this coming? The thought signing Lowell long term and acquiring Delgado would create enough good will to complete the stadium deal. Obviously it didn't work.

 

So I look at is as several factors that resulted in Lowell and Beckett being shipped out together.

I could be wrong, but I thought Lowell was the one who decided what to do with his contract last year, not the FO.

 

Lowell screwed us over...

Fact or Fiction: Mike Lowell is THE reason that Josh Beckett is in a Red Sox uniform right now

 

 

You've got to credit Beinfest and the FO for this as well. Remember they had the opportunity to turn Lowell's contract into a 1 year deal last year. And this was after he already had an abysmal 2nd half of 2004. The FO should have seen this coming? The thought signing Lowell long term and acquiring Delgado would create enough good will to complete the stadium deal. Obviously it didn't work.

 

So I look at is as several factors that resulted in Lowell and Beckett being shipped out together.

I could be wrong, but I thought Lowell was the one who decided what to do with his contract last year, not the FO.

 

Lowell screwed us over...

 

Get over it, man... He is not the sole reason that this firesale is happening. Lowell having a good season last year would not have equated into double ticket sales. It would not have wiped out the lease we have at JRS. It wouldn't have swayed the local government into working with the Marlins to get a new stadium. The guy had one bad year. You forget he was a 3 time all star. The fact that this "firesale" is happening the same year he had an off season, is purely bad timing.

 

It's getting so annoying seeing you people rip on guys like Lowell and Pierre for having a bad year. It happens. I will always be thankful for all the good they gave this franchise. Lowell was basically given the title "Mr. Marlin" until Niner came back. How easily people forget that.

 

I'm praying that Lowell comes back with a 40+ homer season....

Fact or Fiction: Mike Lowell is THE reason that Josh Beckett is in a Red Sox uniform right now

 

 

You've got to credit Beinfest and the FO for this as well. Remember they had the opportunity to turn Lowell's contract into a 1 year deal last year. And this was after he already had an abysmal 2nd half of 2004. The FO should have seen this coming? The thought signing Lowell long term and acquiring Delgado would create enough good will to complete the stadium deal. Obviously it didn't work.

 

So I look at is as several factors that resulted in Lowell and Beckett being shipped out together.

I could be wrong, but I thought Lowell was the one who decided what to do with his contract last year, not the FO.

 

Lowell screwed us over...

 

Get over it, man... He is not the sole reason that this firesale is happening. Lowell having a good season last year would not have equated into double ticket sales. It would not have wiped out the lease we have at JRS. It wouldn't have swayed the local government into working with the Marlins to get a new stadium. The guy had one bad year. You forget he was a 3 time all star. The fact that this "firesale" is happening the same year he had an off season, is purely bad timing.

 

It's getting so annoying seeing you people rip on guys like Lowell and Pierre for having a bad year. It happens. I will always be thankful for all the good they gave this franchise. Lowell was basically given the title "Mr. Marlin" until Niner came back. How easily people forget that.

 

I'm praying that Lowell comes back with a 40+ homer season....

 

Im not even talking about the early 2000s...I am just mentioning one thing which is isn't even debatable. Josh Beckett would still be with the Marlins if Mike Lowell wasn't so pathetic last year.

Im not even talking about the early 2000s...I am just mentioning one thing which is isn't even debatable. Josh Beckett would still be with the Marlins if Mike Lowell wasn't so pathetic last year.

 

 

But that's where you're wrong. Yes, you can say that the only way the Marlins could have rid themselves of Lowell was by packaging Josh Beckett. However, the Marlins are in cost cutting mode, so they knew that they wouldn't be able to afford him regardless... whether it was next year or in 2007. Maybe they're concerned with his health.. who knows. But the main reason that Lowell and Beckett are both gone is because the team is dumping salaries. That's the main thing here. You can't put so much blame on one guy's shoulders. That's not right and not fair.

Beckett wont be making any more money in the coming years than Dontrelle and Miguel will, and he has just as much upside as they do. You might as well trade everyone...

Beckett wont be making any more money in the coming years than Dontrelle and Miguel will, and he has just as much upside as they do. You might as well trade everyone...

 

 

All I'm saying is that there was more to this than Lowell having a bad season. If I were the Marlins front office, I wouldn't feel comfortable giving Beckett a multy year deal yet. He's only 25 and has had 9 stints on the DL. Don't get me wrong. I am a huge Beckett fan, but I can see their logic here. Dontrelle, on the other hand, has remained healthy and already had a full monster season. For all we know, the Marlins were tired of dealing with all the blister problems, oblique muscle problems, etc... There are other factors here, besides Lowell having a bad season.

 

Dontrelle and Cabrera are still very young and they are the kind of guys you build a team around. It makes perfect sense to keep them.