Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Should the Mets sign Derek Lowe?

According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, five teams are interested in signing veteran pitcher Derek Lowe as a swing-man, but he would like to start next season. Lowe feels like he can still be productive as a starter despite posting a 5.11 ERA in 38 appearances (21 starts) for the Indians and Yankees last season. Lowe also has said that he isn't contemplating retirement, and hopes to sign a contract sometime in January. 

This raises the question: should the Mets target Lowe? He would be relatively cheap, is a good veteran presence, and is durable. The problem is he is a pitcher that pitches to contact, and the Mets already have a player like that in Dillon Gee. If the Mets were to sign him, I'd expect that he would slide into the rotation until Zack Wheeler is called up sometime in May or June. However, I don't expect Lowe to be satisfied if he would have to resort to a bullpen role, so perhaps he would want to stay away from the Mets.

Overall, Lowe has had a great amount of success throughout his career, but I don't think he'll come to Mets because the team probably won't keep him in the rotation for a long time. Yet again, he could be a piece that Alderson brings in on a minor league deal and, if he has success, trades him at the deadline for a small prospect or two. Alderson has done that in the past, and it wouldn't surprise me if he signs Lowe with that intention. 

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