Lowe-balled

The Mets pitched a three-year, $36 million offer to Derek Lowe on Tuesday. According to sources, Lowe will continue shopping for a deal elsewhere.

From the Extra Bases blog:

Part of the reason the Mets may have entered the bidding with a relatively conservative offer is because they believe Lowe has no other suitors in the Northeast, where the pitcher has expressed a desire to pitch. The Yankees, Red Sox and Phillies had only preliminary conversations with Lowe and none of those clubs is believed to be interested in the pitcher at this time.

The Mets will likely have to increase the offer by a couple million even to get Lowe to the table. He is said to be seeking a possible five-year, $90 million deal.

Jack Curry doesn't see the Mets going much higher than what they already offered, though:

But as much as the Mets like the veteran right-hander, they are not expected to radically improve their offer. Another million a year, for a total package of $39 million? Maybe. But there won’t be a fourth year added to the deal.

Maybe Lowe will strike out everywhere else and "settle" for the $36 million. With Scott Boras as his agent? Yeah, right.

Outfield assist to Ian from SOX & Dawgs.