Lowell to the Rangers?

[Molina00]

It's a possibility. A deal is currently on the table that would have Texas sending minor league catcher Max Ramirez to Boston for all-star and gold glove winning 3rd baseman Mike Lowell.

The Rangers were looking for an extra RH bat since it looks like an agreement with Marlon Byrd will not be reached.

Lowell comes with a $12 mil price tag for 2010 but the Sox are expected to cover up to 3/4 of it, which would also require the approval of commissioner Bud Selig.

[redsrbetter]

Young for old. Lowell can still stick and pick though. I was up on Ramirez for a while and just figured he wouldn't get much of an opportunity playing behind the million catchers in Texas. Did he have a chance to put up good numbers at all?

[Kingdom]

He'll probably continue to hit, especially at Arlington, but he's no where near a gold glover anymore. In fact, a stick of butter has better range at this point.

[Molina00]

Ramirez has hit .217 in 46 career big league AB's. It looks like he struggled in AAA, but could be because of a wrist injury.

From the Rangers site on MLB.com:

Ramirez had some wrist problems in 2009 while hitting .234 with five home runs and 43 RBIs in 76 games and 320 at-bats at Triple-A Oklahoma. But he is currently playing winter ball in Venezuela, where he is hitting .236 with 12 home runs and 33 RBIs in 50 games and 182 at-bats.

[Saber]

The Rangers need someone else to disappoint them at third base without Blalock.

[Molina00]

He'll probably continue to hit, especially at Arlington, but he's no where near a gold glover anymore. In fact, a stick of butter has better range at this point.

The Rangers don't need him as a 3B man anyway with Mike Young there. I think the plan is more providing depth at 1B/DH. How much playing time he gets will probably depend on the performance of whoever ends up the starting 1B man. They still have 4 good OF'ers and one of them will probably see some substantial time at DH.

[Molina00]

The Rangers need someone else to disappoint them at third base without Blalock.

I don't think they'll be too disappointed in Michael Young.

[redsrbetter]

Um, Chris Davis is no longer a good 1b?

[Saber]

So they trade for Mike Lowell, an over-the-hill injury-prone overpaid 3B, but don't worry, he'll play 1B/DH?

Makes sense to me.

[Kingdom]

Um, Chris Davis is no longer a good 1b?

Did you miss his 60 whiffs per game? I think Davis is a quality fielder, and has plus plus power, but struck out 150 times in less than 400 ABs. I mean, he could put Reynolds to shame.

[redsrbetter]

That bad huh? How was his OBP? Does he walk much?

[Saber]

Chris Davis is Mark Reynolds without the defense or the "ever making contact."

[Impossibles]

Davis is still young, and Smoak is close. I don't really see this as a terribly wise move by Texas, unless they are looking for the whole veteran leader, winning player, and intangibles angle.

[missionhockey21]

The move doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me, but I don't hate it either. Lowell has hit nicely in Arlington over the past two seasons (not like that is a grand feat, but it should help to minimize any degradation of stats due to age and talent, and let him post numbers to help the cause.)

[Kingdom]

What I don't understand is, is if Texas has no money, why take on Lowell and give up Millwood for next to nothing? They still have very little pitching, and Lowell doesn't help in the outfield. What was the point again?