I've been thinking about Mike Lowell's tenure with the Red Sox. It's been quite a ride.
He arrives with the Red Sox in 2005 as the "other player" that had to be taken in order to complete the deal for Josh Beckett. Lowell was considered excess baggage.
In 2007 he is named as the World Series MVP. He was a tough out & played great in the field. After the Series he resigns a 3-year deal with the Sox for less money & less years than he could have gotten elsewhere.
2008 & 2009 are injury-plagued years. Both years there are rumors of trades for Todd Helton & Mark Tiexiera. Hip surgery slows him down to a crawl.
This off-season the Sox trade Lowell to Texas, only to have the deal nullifies because of a hand injury. Lowell has the necessary surgery & is expected to be ready for Spring Training in March.
As odd as Lowell's tenure has been in Boston, you can't feel that bad for him since he will still make his $12 million this year - whether with Boston or somewhere else. That's the business side.
On the personal side everyone mentions Lowell as a great clubhouse presence & a professional in his work ethic. No steroid rumors. No cheating on his wife. No arrests at strip clubs.
I hope that the Sox find a way to use him this year. You never know about injuries.
No comments:
Post a Comment