December 2, 200322 yr just in from the palm beach post less than an hour ago... Tuesday, December? 2 Lowell, Marlins agree on deal By Joe Capozzi, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Tuesday, December 2, 2003 All-Star third baseman Mike Lowell has agreed in principal to a four-year, $32 million contract that could keep him with the Marlins through 2007, sources said Monday. The deal is expected to be announced by the end of the week after medical tests are completed. Lowell was in Gainesville on Monday to undergo some of those tests, which a team source insisted were strictly standard. In July, Lowell had tests done at Shands Medical Center after a mass was discovered on his hip that turned out to be not cancerous. Lowell underwent surgery for testicular cancer in 1999 and he has not suffered a recurrence. Lowell's deal would be the first multiyear contract offered by Jeffrey Loria since he took over the Marlins in February 2002. General Manager Admin Beinfest said in July that the team would try to sign Lowell to a multiyear deal. The contract includes a clause related to construction of a new stadium. It is believed that Lowell can become a free agent if a stadium deal isn't reached, or if construction has not begun, by a certain date. Lowell, who is eligible for arbitration, made $3.7 million in 2003 while setting career highs with 32 home runs and 105 RBI despite missing September after his left hand was broken by a pitch. Lowell's new contract would pay him $8 million a year, according to two sources, although published reports have speculated the deal is worth $36 million to $40 million. Lowell, 29, was named to the National League All-Star team the past two seasons and received a Silver Slugger Award this season as the league's top offensive player at his position. The Marlins traded first baseman Derrek Lee to the Chicago Cubs last week for first baseman Hee Seop Choi, but the team is trying to keep the rest of the infield intact. Beinfest last week said the team was "well down the road" on negotiations with All-Star second baseman Luis Castillo, who is considering a three-year offer of $16.5 million. Castillo made $4.85 million in 2003 and the Marlins' offer would pay him $5.5 million annually. There were no new developments Monday in negotiations with catcher Pudge Rodriguez, sources said. Because the Marlins are contractually prohibited from offering him salary arbitration, the team has until Sunday to reach a deal. It was believed that the Marlins had indicated to Rodriguez that it would offer him a two-year deal worth $16 million. But a source said Monday the Marlins had verbally offered him a two-year deal worth $20 million. Rodriguez signed a one-year deal worth $10 million in January, but $7 million of that is deferred. joe_capozzi@pbpost.com http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/conten...cdd1980007.html $8 mill / year is not bad at all luis + mike = :thumbup
December 2, 200322 yr suuu-weeeeet! Lowell's locked up! It was believed that the Marlins had indicated to Rodriguez that it would offer him a two-year deal worth $16 million. But a source said Monday the Marlins had verbally offered him a two-year deal worth $20 million. 2 years 20 million for Pudge?? C'mon Ivan, give us a damn break!
December 2, 200322 yr suuu-weeeeet! Lowell's locked up! It was believed that the Marlins had indicated to Rodriguez that it would offer him a two-year deal worth $16 million. But a source said Monday the Marlins had verbally offered him a two-year deal worth $20 million. 2 years 20 million for Pudge?? C'mon Ivan, give us a damn break! If he doesn't take it let his fat @** walk.
December 2, 200322 yr *Looks at Pudge* "You are up now, but we have a backup plan!" *Nods in Vlads general direction.*
December 2, 200322 yr Pudge is getting really tiresome. No one in their right mind would give a 32 year old catcher with history of injuries a five year deal......he better take off the rose colored glasses and smell the java.....like real quick cuz I think the Marlins are quickly getting over Pudge and are anxious to move on.
December 2, 200322 yr I believe a deal with Pudge will be reached. In addition, I have a gut feeling that there will be some of that special money for this season to do some signing in order to complete key pieces like relief pitching.
December 2, 200322 yr i definitely will not be heartbroken if he does not come back. We got we need offensively in Lowell and our 1-2 punch at the top of the order.
December 2, 200322 yr hometown discount dammit "Hometown Discount" is obviously not in Pudge's vocabulary. If the Marlins are only going to sign Pudge for a hometown discount and no more, Pudge will not be a Marlin next year.
December 2, 200322 yr i thought we were having a firesale. damn. sure shut up a lot of people huh? hehehehe
December 2, 200322 yr Wooohooo. Lowell is back and Castillo the key guys in this offseason that needed to be signed. Way to go Beinfest! :thumbup And to Loria for dishing out that cash to sign them of course. He probably had to sell some of his paintings, but thats worth it to keep a WS team together.
December 2, 200322 yr Mike, Luis, Cabs, our great pitching staff......man are we set as we build momentum for our new stadium. I'm psyched. C'mon Pudge....how can you say no to a great opportunity to defend your title??? With Pudge, we'll give the Phillies all they can handle next year.
December 2, 200322 yr hometown discount dammit "Hometown Discount" is obviously not in Pudge's vocabulary. If the Marlins are only going to sign Pudge for a hometown discount and no more, Pudge will not be a Marlin next year. look at his agent: borass this attitude greed and no hometown discount is coming directly from boras
December 2, 200322 yr ya know im like da next guy, Xcited about Choi at 1st i mean him and Miggy did play in the Minor leauge all star game and stuff like that its just miggy got alot playing time and Choi did not after that freak injury..... he will come in his own... got Louie back hope his knee is healthy i would love to see em run like he use to.. anybody think he will ever regain his Running abilty from the past????? and we got our All Star 3rd baseman locked up in a 4 year deal... and we are offering Pudge a nice deal which he shouldnt refuse if he wants to win... alll thou the TIgers could offer him much more...... but 1 thing we havent addressed is who the f*** is our closer and who is our 5th starter we havent addressed anything on the pitching status and thats what really got us where we at right now.....
December 2, 200322 yr hometown discount dammit "Hometown Discount" is obviously not in Pudge's vocabulary. If the Marlins are only going to sign Pudge for a hometown discount and no more, Pudge will not be a Marlin next year. look at his agent: borass this attitude greed and no hometown discount is coming directly from boras i think Pudge has the same attitude
December 2, 200322 yr It is really nice to know Loria and Co. is a real baseball ownership not a Wayne Huizenga type thing. This is akin to the Alan Cohen ownership of the Panthers who are just into the Hockey and are also willing to pay some sort of a price to have a good team now, though the Panthers aren't doin well according to some of the people's here standards.
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