A National League baseball team known as the Atlanta Braves are looking to dump pitcher Derek Lowe and his $45 Million over the next three seasons, according to The Fanhouse Blog. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are looking to trade Gary Matthews Jr. and $23 Million over the next 2 seasons.
If the Angels fail to re-sign John Lackey, could this deal be a backup plan for a veteran starting pitcher to round out our rotation and jettison the Matthews abomination of a contract from the Big A once and for all?
If the Angels fail to re-sign their beloved Chone Figgins, could Lowe + salary relief be packaged in a trade to the Detroit Tigers for, ummmm, maybe Curtis Granderson?
0 recs | 32 comments
Make this trade, don't ever look back.
Having a once dominant number 2 pitcher on staff is infinitely better than having a number 4 outfielder who has had exactly one solid season in his entire career.
shiftyeyedgoat - November 19, 2009
amen and amen
please make this happen.
I want Gary Massacre Jr. gone he is awful.
deejayelleseven - November 19, 2009 via mobile
i will never believe
that a team wants to trade for GMJ until i actually see him in the new uniform
NW angels Fan - November 19, 2009
Even if we sign Lackey and Figgy.
DO THIS. Quick, before they change their minds. NOW. HURRY.
Has anyone checked out Del Taco, maybe they are there now??
matthiasstephan - November 19, 2009
this trade would be just dandy...
SenorChuckles - November 19, 2009
Maybe I should go to Lowe's today and have Del Taco for lunch.
Monkeyspanked - November 19, 2009
Do the trade
And if it actually happens, then you might as well offerJeff Mathis to the Twins for another catcher drafted in 2001 with initials J.M., a minor league playing brother named Jake, and who once had a football scholarship offer.
RallyMonkey5 - November 19, 2009
I'm not even kidding
about their brothers. Go ahead and look them up on baseball reference. It’s amazing how much Mauer and Mathis have in common, outside of a little thing like ability to hit a baseball.
RallyMonkey5 - November 19, 2009
Mathis hit it pretty good in the playoffs
ryanfea - November 19, 2009
enough so
that I probably have uncharacteristically higher expectations for him next year. did something click? did he figure something out?
feNOMINAL - November 19, 2009
So is Granderson available?
Seriously?! Who knew?
Angel Hawker - November 19, 2009
This is likely the BEST
that we can get for Mathews. There is no other scenario where we get a better player than Lowe in a trade with Mathews.
ryanfea - November 19, 2009
The shame about GMJ is it's merely his contract.
Stoneman must have been raiding Rex’s stash just before signing GMJ.
By all accounts, GMJ has been a good teammate; he shut up and soldiered when he was unhappy; and he saved our bacon when Torii went down for a month or so.
So if I say “good riddance”, it’s not to the man himself, but only to his contract.
red floyd - November 19, 2009
This is right.
My only other concern is that he expects more playing time, and with the players we have he can’t get it.
He would probably start elsewhere, and it is a shame to give him so much grief here when we could get another back up for less.
Free Gary Matthews.
matthiasstephan - November 19, 2009
+1
I agree. I have to admit I jump on the GMJ bashing train a lot myself, but as you said, not because I think he is a jerk or clubhouse distraction. When he signed with the Angels, yeah, he got way more money than he should have, but I can’t fault him for taking it (he’d be a moron not to). And, sure, the HGH probably gave him that extra “boost” in his only decent season, but I don’t think he was doing it just to “trick” anyone into a big contract, it was something that a huge number of major leaguers were doing (most insiders estimate the amount of people doing it was far, far more than is generally known).
He came to the Angels wanting what most players want… playing time. Unfortunately, he didn’t produce to the level expected and others came in who could. He is not happy about his role, but for the most part has tried to be a good team player and voice his unhappiness to the front office without tearing the clubhouse apart. Interviews I’ve heard from him, he does seem like a good guy.
But… as you said, red floyd, it’s the huge millstone his contract has become around the team’s neck that we want to jettison badly. Ten million a year is ridiculous for a journeyman 4th outfielder, and on the Angels, that is all his production will ever make him.
Hoppity Hooper - November 19, 2009
Should our expectations be Lowe?
On the surface, this deal looks fairly reasonable. Lowe’s 15 wins could replace Lackey’s 11 wins. But his production isn’t nearly as impressive as Lackey and the Angels would be on the hook for an additional 25 million. Its not a bad idea, but the Angels already have a pretty solid pitching lineup. The Angel’s 5th spot could be filled by Matt Palmer, Sean O’Sullivan, or a prospect who might be ready to shine. Moving Matthews isn’t a bad idea, but a move for Lowe should only be made if the Angels are planning on packing Lowe in a bigger trade.
I say No to Lowe.
Jay Cal - November 19, 2009
Agree...
Lowe is turning 37 and had an ERA+ of 88 last year and he is signed for three more years at about $45 million. Pitchers with ERA+ numbers in the high 80’s are number 5 starters at best, not number 2’s. He isn’t an answer to any question we have with regard to our pitching staff.
He also is rumored to have an alcohol problem (or had?) and left his wife for a TV newswoman/sports reporter. He’s overpaid, no longer an above average starter, is north of 35 and seemingly a crappy person. What’s to like here? Seriously? I despise GMJ, but his contract might actually be more sensible than Lowe’s going forward. And that’s saying something.
jimmuscomp - November 19, 2009
character issues
Ironic how upset the McCourts were about Derek’s infidelity with that Hermosa teevee hoochie…
Rev Halofan - November 19, 2009
who is this...
hermosa hoochee?
feNOMINAL - November 19, 2009
Some news reporter
The Lowe-life left his wife and 3 kids for her
Higz - November 19, 2009
It was Carolyn Hughes of FSW
She was reporting on the Dodgers at that time, and Lowe was one of the Dodger starters. He was married with kids, she was married as well, but each divorced their spouse and Lowe and Hughes are now married to one another.
George Kaplan - November 19, 2009
How come no one is paying attention to comments like this?
Do people just see the name Derek Lowe, say, “oh, he’s a good pitcher” and ignore the fact that his contract would be larger albatross than GMJ’s?
The $15 million man had a 4.67 ERA and 1.52 WHIP last year – and in the National League. This helps us how???
I’m going to rec Scully’s comment in the hope that turning it green makes people read it.
snowhor - November 19, 2009
If the deal is GMJ for Lowe...
then why assume this deal is only if we lose Lackey.
I would say do this deal and try to get Lackey. Having them both lets us leave Palmer in long relief, O’Sullivan in Salt Lake, and have very good rotation.
matthiasstephan - November 19, 2009
Reality check
Guys…the Atlanta Braves arent trading their number two starter for an 35 yr old OF who wouldnt start for them… (McLouth, Diaz, and Heyward will be starters next year and Jordan Scahefer is still a good prospect who will be given another shot, well ahead of GMJ)…
We all love our halos and want to see good pieces added…but weve gotta be reasonable here in our expectations…
Kgdadude - November 19, 2009
Lowe+ GA for GMJ or no deal.
I never got a chance to get my #16 jersey signed.
3rd Echelon - November 19, 2009
GA is a FA
halofan4life - November 19, 2009
i feel like this post is a joke and most people aren't getting it
why would any team acquire gary matthews jr? Im pretty sure 15-20 teams could offer more productive, appealing packages to Atlanta for them to move Lowe’s contract.
ihearhowie2.0 - November 19, 2009
yeah but how many teams can afford to take on that contract
not many teams are willing to take on a pitcher who will be owed 15-16 mill at 39 at the end of his contract….this is more of a salary dump than anything else. I see this sort of like the trade the Yankees made to get Abreu a couple years back where the Phillies were just trying to get rid of the salary. From the Braves side, getting rid of Lowe would allow them to keep Vasquez who is much more difficult to trade, save some money, get a prospect or two and get some insurance in case Schafer can’t put it together or Heyward has some trouble adjusting to the show at the beginning.
HaloFanInDC - November 19, 2009
Really?
Some people are taking this thread seriously…ATL would be INSANE to pull the trigger on this deal…GMJ would be their 4th maybe 5th outfielder, and they’re going to give up their #2 pitcher for him?? Give me a break. We’d be lucky to get the #2 pitcher from the Richmond Braves(AAA team) for GMJ.
Gold Glove Hunter 48 - November 19, 2009
Yeah, I don't see why the Braves would do this.
Yes, Lowe didn’t live up to expectations but he is still decent and he has value because he is durable and can give you a lot of innings.
Gary Nothankews Jr. on the other hand has no value whatsoever.
Chzburger Jones - November 20, 2009
have you guys seen the Braves OF, its pretty shitty.
GMJ would indeed be an upgrade.
SenorChuckles - November 20, 2009
It's not THAT bad.
Plus it’s on the cheap, except for Mclouth I think.
halofan4life - November 20, 2009
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