No, this isn't a delayed "hoorah!" for winning the World Series post. Though as any good New Englander should be, I'm jacked. No, this post is a "yea" for the team re-signing Mike Lowell, their World Series MVP. And, a "sorry" to Mike Lowell that he didn't hit the mega-bucks sweepstakes. Not that I'm going to cry too long for Lowell who'll be making $12 million per season. Guaranteed. Even if he breaks both legs in spring training next year and never plays another game.
But I digress. This is a Yay! for the Sox. Yay they got the guy back, keeping the middle of their order in place. Their lineup should be pretty potent again next year and the pitching will be improved.
Yay! for the Sox. They didn't spend $20 million a year and over promise on the number of years. Yay for the Sox for not bothering to go after A-Fraud, especially after that tasteless announcement by his agent during game four of the World Series.
Which brings us back to Lowell. Yay! So here's how it happened. A-Fraud announces he's opting out of his contract. What's his hope? That the $$ rich Red Sox will drive his numbers up so he can make an even more obscene amount of money for being the best regular season player in baseball. But what happened to his plan?
It breaks down this way. The Red Sox make Lowell an offer (and a nice offer, plus $3 million a year over his expiring deal) to stay in Boston. They make an offer that fits them, their need, and Lowell's age. It's a good offer. Not insane, but good. Despite the fact they know that A-Fraud is out there. Despite the fact they know the Yankees can offer big $$, they make their offer to Lowell. This kills A-Fraud.
It kills A-Fraud because he knows the Sox aren't going to pony up the $30+ million a year he wants. It kills the market for Lowell because the Yankees know that the Red Sox aren't going to (a) over pay for Lowell, or (b) over pay for A-Fraud. The Yankees make an offer, but nothing staggering. The Sox don't bite. They also don't start looking for A-Fraud. More over, everyone in New England is quite vocally saying "WE DON'T WANT A-FRAUD".
Suddenly A-Fraud realizes that he has no where to go. No place else (Angels, Mets, Braves) that can afford him is interested in what he wants. So, HE approaches the Yankees to open talks. Once the Yankees know they have A-Fraud, they take the offer for Lowell off the table. So, Lowell takes the Sox offer because he knows it's his best bet.
So, Yay! For the Sox. We've got a Gold Glove third baseman (something the Yankees can't say ;-)! Yay for Lowell! He's making $3 million a year more than he was :-D Yay! That the Yankees get stuck with the petulant, spoiled choke artist that could well be the best regular season player in the game. They deserve him!
Oh. And the Patriots are undefeated by the way. Anyone notice that?
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