Derek Lowe Insulted He's Only Being Offered Carlos Silva Money

The Mets' pursuit of Derek Lowe has recently hit a snag, and -- according to this source -- that would be the fact that he's a much better pitcher than Carlos Silva. You see, Silva signed a four year-$48 million contract with the Mariners before last season. Now, Lowe's being offered three years and $36 million. Apparently Lowe finds his "distasteful" because he feels he is "far superior" to Silva.

You can't really blame him, on the surface. Even before the disastrous 2008 season -- in which Silva was one of the worst pitchers in the league -- Lowe was the far superior pitcher. The Mariners, frankly, made an awful signing. Silva was coming off a season in which he was barely above average in ERA and sported a 1.31 WHIP. He doesn't strike guys out, and he gives up tons of hits (1,335 hits in under 1,100 career innings).

Lowe, on the other hand, has only had one below average season in his entire career, and he's coming off a stellar second half. You have to assume as he ages he won't deteriorate quite as quickly as others might, because he's a pitch-to-contact ground ball hurler. He can suvive on guile, a la Jamie Moyer.

Are Lowe's complaints valid, though? Can you really go find the most ridiculous contract at your position and hold teams hostage, claiming they must pay you that much? Again, the Mariners signing of Silva was downright absurd. Does this mean every pitcher who is better -- again, pretty much everyone in 2008 -- should be making more than $12 million a year? I get the stance by Lowe, because it's a personal feeling. It just doesn't seem too realistic, especially since the baseball economy isn't as strong this year as it was last (unless you are from the Bronx).

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

1-02-2009 @ 5:03PM

TheHulk said...

Wow, Can you imagine how a TRUE ACE like Ben Sheets feels??

1-02-2009 @ 6:02PM

lew said...

AS CHEAP AS THE METS ARE SIGNING LOWE 4 YEARS AT 14 TO 15 MILLION OR 3 YEARS WITH AN OPTION MUST GET DONE. HES A STARTER NOT A RELIEVER. HE IS ENTITLED TO 15 MIL FOR 3 YEARS. METS YOU CHEAP IDIOTS SIGN HIM. NOW

1-03-2009 @ 12:46AM

Erie Doctrine said...

"entitled to 15 million"? you must be joking...

1-02-2009 @ 8:04PM

Gregg T. said...

Omar strikes again! New York needs a good starting pitcher and jerkweed will let another quality player escape while he signs more second basemen who can't hit a bull in the ass with a mop.Would somebody pull Omar's head out of his butt before he smothers?

1-02-2009 @ 8:26PM

bongobop said...

In today's market, I think it's more like Carlos Silva is signed for Derick Lowe money.

1-02-2009 @ 8:27PM

melman said...

i wish someone would insult me with $36 million

1-02-2009 @ 8:28PM

i wonder if carl pavano would feel insulted for that amount?

1-09-2009 @ 9:05PM

Goldie said...

One wonders whether Lowe would have won as many games as he did in the second half of the season as he did were it not for Manny Ramirez?

1-03-2009 @ 1:20AM

peter said...

If Lowe was born Puerto Rico you can bet Omar would have paid him 5 years 16 mil per, Thank God for the Steinbrener family and being born a Yankee fan

1-04-2009 @ 12:35PM

LEW said...

NO PLAYER IS WORTH THE OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNTS OF MONEY BEING PAID. BUT YOU HAVE TO USE YOUR HEAD LOWE IS A GOOD FIT FOR THE METS. IF YOU MISS OUT YOU WILL SIGN SOME OVER THE HILL BUM, OR OVERPAY FOR PEREZ WHO WILL KILL YOU WITH HIS WALKS AND HOME RUNS. SIGN LOWE NOW.

1-03-2009 @ 11:54AM

Bro said...

I seriously doubt any of these words ever came out of Lowes mouth. I agree with one poster,"I wish someone would insult me like that." The fact that no other offers have been made public makes Lowe look like a bad guy by not excepting it.

1-03-2009 @ 2:29PM

rob said...

if your so glad your a yankee fan i feel sorry for you, because every year the yankees over pay for all there ballplayers, jeter aint worth what hes being paid, arod is not worth half of what hes paid andevery year they try to buy themselves a world series ring and every year they prove money cant buy everything they are a joke team they use to be the best team around now the are the best team money can buy, and thats all hey know how to do is spend money, rich team and when was the last time they where in the playoffs, wasted money...

1-03-2009 @ 6:16PM

Listein before you open your mouth,Lets look at the Mets how many players on the team are from there farm system,And how many are free agents let me re phrase that how many are free agent busts ( How much are you paying your second baseman ) who is a joke,All big market teams spend money its how baseball is played these days we just have a lot more and a owner how is willing to spend a lot of what he makes.So please rob dont make a fool of yourself again and speak when grown ups are talking

1-03-2009 @ 2:39PM

Laughin2theBank said...

Can't help but laugh at rob. They missed the playoffs for the 1st time in 13 seasons and is asking when was the last time they were in the playoffs. hmmmm 2007? A-Rod isn't worth half of what he is being paid? That's really going out on a limb there. Tell us, who is worth what they are being paid?
You spend what you make. You live the lifestyle you can afford.
People that make $1,000,000 a year don't live like they make $25,000.

1-11-2009 @ 12:52PM

Tony Frisa said...

Has anyone stopped to read into this? It was the Mets INITIAL offer. Does anyone go to a car dealership and offer more than sticker? This is an initial offer people. Lowe and his agent should then come back with more, and hopefully both parties meet in the middle. Omar is playing this right. No other team has even come out with any offer, so why bid against yourself? The market this year is more cautious than last year and the Mets are playing it safe. It seemed to work out for them with K-Rods contract didn't it??? Bottom line is he really is WAY better than Silva, but the Mariners made a huge mistake, you can't hold that against every other team in baseball. I figure Lowe is worth 14 to 16 million a year. If the Mets offered up that much in the beginning Lowe would surely have countered with 18 to 20 million, simple economics. But now he is into Sabathia and Santana money, which he does not deserve. The Mets did right, lets just see how it plays out. Besides the offer was made days ago and no other team jumped in with a better offer yet did they? Maybe Omar's not too far off.

1-03-2009 @ 5:27PM

Lowe wants 5 years/90mm, hell why not ask for 15 years 270mm!!!

Is he kidding? 18mm a year????

1. he's 37 years old
2. In 12 years he's only had one 20+ win season (7 yrs ago) His next best yr he won 17 games (6 years ago)
3. his claim to fame is, he always pitches 200 plus innings (well he only did it 5 times in 12 yrs)
His last 4 years he was 54-48

Lowe is a good pitcher but it is unrealistic to believe he is an elite pitcher.

Compare Lowe to a pitcher closing in on retirement....

Andy Pettitte

1. he's the same age as Lowe
2. In 14 years he's had two 20+ win season (his last 6 yrs ago) He's been a 19,18 &17 games winner as well
3. Andy pitched 200 plus innings 10 times
His last 4 years he was 60-45

Andy P is looking for 1 yr over 10mm
Derek Lowe is looking for 5 yrs 18mm a yr

I ask you is lowe being relistic???

I question Andy Pettitte being worth 10mm, but outraged at lowe being insulted being offered 12mm he' a 8mm a year guy...

1-05-2009 @ 2:49PM

Rick Day said...

As a life-long Dodger fan, I couldn't agree with you more!! Lowe is an 'average' pitcher at best--probably a #3 or # 4 starter. The Dodgers treated him well for 3 years and during those years he was far from an elite pitcher. Good riddance and good luck finding a sucker to pay him the ridiculous and "insulting" contract he's seeking.

1-03-2009 @ 7:02PM

Lee said...

rob using this as a Yankee bashing forum, while the Mets are 1 bat and 1 starter away from being a true threat to win it all. If Sheets, Lowe, or any double digit wins guy can be signed the Mets should pay the couple extra mill and get him. NY has to beat Philly, LA, and( if the Giants get a bat)-them to get a chance at a WS title, With all the money they have invested already they are a couple million a year from getting a possible 16 win- 200 plus inning- guy that puts them over the top. If LA gets Lowe and Dunn the Mets are not going to win the NL.

1-05-2009 @ 11:02AM

THE METS NEED LOWE HES 35 AND A GROUND BALL PITCHER. HES DOESNT THROW 99 HES A PERFICT FIT FOR THE METS, GO GET HIM. THEN FIX LEFT FIELD GET MANNY YOU WILL MAKE MORE MONEY WITH HIM THEN YOU EVER SAW.3 YEARS 75 MILLION, DONT BE SO CHEAP. YOUW WILL SCREW UP AGAIN. THE CLOSER PROBLEM IS DONE. DUMP SANCHEZ HES CRAP. GET A SECOND BASEMAN. PUT A TOP TEAM ON THE FIEL;D FOR 2009. THE METS WILL MAKE TONS OF MONEY. ONLY OF YOU PUT A TOP TEAM ON THE FIELD.

1-05-2009 @ 12:34PM

ptcruisindad said...

the Yankees and Mets pay big money for high profile free agents, where's the World Series pennants for all their money spent ? the Phillies are smart, they made it all the way with Dodger cast-offs like Werth and Victorino.both of whom made their former ballclub suffer, in the NLCS.

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