The Stove Heats Up

Baseball's winter meetings are underway, and, for a change, there seems to be some real activity this year. The Yankees have already made a move to get Tigers CF Curtis Granderson in exchange for Phil Coke and some upper-middle-class prospects, certainly a good move in the near future and likely for the long term as well.

This has of course prompted the standard media calls for the Red Sox to "react," as if the number of offseason maneuvers were its own statistic. And now, for what I assume are better reasons than that, they appear close to moving Mike Lowell to the Rangers for Max Ramirez, a young offense-first catcher. I think this is the right move on a couple of levels:

First off, Lowell was almost inevitably going to miss 10-20 games because of his need to rest his bones; it's pretty obvious by now that his hip surgery significantly impacted last year, and going on 36 years old, there isn't much reason to think he's going to bounce back this year. 140 starts actually feels like a pretty bullish estimate. Secondly, he is set to make $12m this year. Now, from the sounds of things, the Sox are going to be spending $9m of that just to have him play elsewhere, and that's a steep price. But they're also filling an organizational need by bringing in another catcher--we all know Varitek is not long for this lineup, even if he does get to keep a roster spot. He's earned that much. And while Lowell's leadership may be an asset for the young Rangers, the Sox have a strong core of established players who can pick up the slack there. Better to move Lowell now than risk having him be injured, or unproductive, until the trading deadline, and end up getting nothing at the end of the year.

It's a tough move, PR-wise. Ramirez is far from a guaranteed talent, and most Sox fans have never even heard of him. Not only that, Lowell is viewed as one of the classiest and most likeable guys in the Sox organization. But this kind of hit is temporary--people are always sad to lose an established player, especially one who's been a big part of a championship team. I still say you've got to pull the trigger. Youkilis needs a full-time position, the team needs a young catcher, and they could stand to clear some salary, too, if they plan to re-sign Jason Bay. Or go get Adrian Beltre. Or both.

I want it read into the record that I do not think this trade is in any way a "response" to the Granderson deal. The Yankees, by the way, seem to me to have clearly improved their team this offseason, after winning the world series. Let no one think I am happy about this.

MILES:

I've always liked Mike Lowell. He did, after all, come up through the Yankees' system. He's always comported himself professionally, performed acts of wizardry at the hot corner, and given my chosen team fits at the plate, both as member of the 2003 World Series Champions Florida Marlins and the 2007 Sox, who, rumor has it, won a game or two or 11 that postseason. That said, I think this is the right move for the organization. I know nothing about this young catcher (I assumed he was an infielder), but Lowell is in the twilight of his career. The Sox had to move on; their fans understand that.  

I'm starting to come around on the Granderson trade. Initially, I was concerned about his platoon splits, his defensive decline, and his alarming propensity to strike out. But Jim Leyland and just about everybody else in the Majors swears by his character, his love for the game, and his ability to figure out lefties. This, like the Sox's impending trade of Lowell, makes a whole lot of sense. 

I'd be remiss, though, if I didn't point out that the Sox will end up paying Mike Lowell more money not to play than the Yankees will pay Granderson to patrol the most famous real estate in sports. 

BEN:

Max Ramirez has been periodically mentioned as a possible Red Sox option at catcher over the last year or so. It's the right move for the Rangers, who are stacked at that position, and get a good clubhouse presence and reliable (when healthy) bat for $3m. The Sox, in return, are getting a player who has big upside as a hitter, even if his defense has been questioned. One hopes he'll grow up as a defensive player. I think it's a win for both sides at this point.

By the way, the Yankees closed down the most famous real estate in sports. Granderson will be patrolling the ground hallowed by Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner.

MILES:

That's World Series champions Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner, sir.