ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves and free agent right-hander Derek Lowe have agreed to a four-year deal worth $60 million on Tuesday, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Lowe, 35, is coming off a season in which he went 14-11 with a 3.24 ERA for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 34 starts. The deal gives Atlanta a much sought after ace pitcher to anchor a new look rotation which includes Javier Vazquez, recently signed Kenshin Kawakami and rookie stand-out Jair Jurrjens.
Just last Thursday, the Braves were believed to have suffered through a disastrous offseason in which they were unable to come to terms with free agents A.J. Burnett and Rafael Furcal, unable to complete a trade for Jake Peavy, and watched 21-year veteran John Smoltz depart in favor of joining the Boston Red Sox.
Atlanta will hold a press conference on Tuesday afternoon to formally introduce Kawakami and will formally announce the Lowe signing after the righty completes a routine physical on Wednesday.
Lowe, who has averaged 15 wins and 208 innings per season since 2002, brings durability and poise to an Atlanta rotation which was marred by injury in 2008. In a 12-year career, Lowe is 126-107 with a 3.75 ERA and 85 saves.
The Launching Pad- Atlanta Braves Blog
1 Comment
January 13, 2009 at 9:50 am
Great deal. Plain and simple. I've been wanting Lowe for weeks, and now he gives the Braves EXACTLY what they need at the top of the rotation: a durable veteran presence who throws one of the best sinkers in the game.
– 12+ wins each year since 2002.
– 182+ IP each year since 2002 (199 1/3+ in six of those seven years).
– An ERA that's dropped each of the past four years.
– A career 3.35 ERA in the postseason.
– Led NL in starts last season (34) and in 2005 (35)
– 1.92 BB per nine innings fourth in NL last year
– 7-3 with a 2.38 ERA in his 14 starts after the All-Star break.
– 3-0 in final five starts with an 0.59 ERA as L.A. pushed to the West title.
He'll have a very good defensive infield playing behind him. He knows how to win, has big-game experience, and throws with an easy motion (which is why I don't have a problem with four years).
Great addition. This rotation now stacks up very well in the NL East.
Just need a power bat …
Bud.
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