1/6/09

Mets will not go higher on Lowe

The Mets have pitched a three-year, $36 million offer to Derek Lowe. He seems to have brushed it aside in hopes of finding a bigger and better deal. No other team has come forward with an offer, and the Mets are adamant they will not raise their offer to the free agent pitcher.

Via Ken Davidoff:
Lowe ranks as the Mets' first choice to replace Oliver Perez in their starting rotation, but they also are negotiating with Perez himself and lefthander Randy Wolf. Agent Scott Boras represents both Lowe and Perez.
The Mets should wait this out and see if he folds and takes the deal. I can see them offering a few million more, but not much. I can't see them giving him four guaranteed years, though.

Lowe wants $16 million per year, and with this deal he's only getting $12 million. With Scott Boras as his agent, you would think he would get what he wants (and more), but with the economy the way it is and many teams already locking up their needs, Lowe may have to "settle" for the Mets offer.