Tigers mailbag: Focusing on Lowe
The first few weeks of this mailbag feature,
I've seen a pretty good variety of questions ranging
from the obvious to the painfully obscure.
But with the Red Sox surge to the world championship,
there's a certain pattern in some of these emails from last week ...
What is the possibility of signing Derek Lowe as a starter,
and possible closer insurance?
Also, any chance Smoltz will come home as a starter?
-- Troy, Decatur, Al.
Can you see the Tigers making a move for a good starting pitcher
like Derek Lowe? Is there a way they can get rid of
Bobby Higginson without taking a bigger hit in payroll?
-- Matt, Mt. Pleasant
Do you think that the Tigers will pursue Carl Pavano or Derek Lowe?
Pavano has credited Pudge with making him a better pitcher,
and Lowe is from Dearborn, of course.
After Derek Lowe's performance in Game 7 of the ALCS,
will the Red Sox let him go? If they do,
is there a shot the Tigers will be able to sign him and
how much would he be worth?
-- Shawn S., Flat Rock, Mich.
A few weeks ago I read that Derek Lowe would be a free agent
after this season. It was reported that he might be interested in the Tigers.
Your thoughts, please.
-- John
I haven't had that many emails about one pitcher
since the Jeff Weaver trade -- which, by the way,
I don't hear too many complaints about anymore. But about Lowe ...
Yes, Lowe being from Dearborn should make him appealing to the Tigers
among free agent pitchers, kind of like how Pat Hentgen being from
Fraser made him appealing a year ago around this time.
Two differences, though: The T'e
A couple factors make me believe there's not an automatic match here.
By all accounts, Lowe's postseason has set him up to be a target for many
teams, at least a couple of which will probably offer him a lucrative contract.
While the Tigers could certainly use a veteran starter for 2005,
they won't in 2007 or '08, when all the young pitching
they've accumulated starts maturing and the young pitchers
in Detroit become veterans themselves.
The other factor is the style of starting pitcher president/GM
Dave Dombrowski has usually preferred to acquire -- guys with hard
(low or mid-90s) fastballs who can mix in a couple other pitches.
That's not just a draft history, but often the open market as well
if he has a choice. Though Lowe's fastball hits 90 mph, his calling card
is the breaking ball. If it comes down to spending big-time money
on a pitcher, plus bumping a young pitcher like Ledezma, Robertson or
Maroth out of the rotation, that
could be a big question. When the dollars are on the table,
you wonder if the Tigers won't rather spend theirs on another bat,
plus some relief, and stay the course with the younger
guys in the rotation.
By the way,
if this many people are pushing for the Dearborn guy,
I hope to see at least one email about Royal Oak's Joe Roa
if the Twins let him go.
Speaking of Michigan natives...
Do you think Andy Van Hekken has a future in the Tigers' plans?
-- Dennis L., Grand Rapids, Mich.
Van Hekken, the native of Holland, Mich.,
has six minor league seasons under his belt and became
a free agent at year's end.
The Tigers have enough options for Triple-A
that they probably won't bring him back.
At 25, he's still young enough
that a change of scenery could be the best thing for him.
He'll be farther from home, but he can find a system
where he's closer to returning to the Majors.
Can you give us an update on the injured pitching prospects from
Double-A? What is the health status of Kenny Baugh,
Rob Henkel, Jeremy Johnson and Preston Larrison?
When will they come back, and
where do you think they will pitch next year?
Also, at what level do Humberto Sanchez,
Kyle Sleeth and Joel Zumaya fit into the planning for 2005?
-- Drew B., Toledo, Ohio
Here's the rundown, Drew: Baugh and
Johnson should be fine for next year.
Henkel, who had labrum surgery last May,
is scheduled to start a throwing program in
Lakeland this week and should be pitching again
sometime next spring. There's a chance, but not a likelihood,
Henkel could be ready for Opening Day. Larrison,
who underwent Tommy John surgery, is not expected back until next summer.
Of that group, I think Baugh probably makes the step up to Toledo.
Henkel probably returns to Erie, while Larrison --
and possibly Johnson -- could end up starting his way back from
Lakeland while he regains his arm strength.
Does the signing of Verlander mean the
Tigers will use less money in their pursuit of free agent pitching
in the offseason? In my opinion, this team needs a bat in the outfield,
a starting pitcher like Derek Lowe, and more pitchers for the bullpen,
even a closer if Urbina is unable to return.
-- William H.
The way the Verlander deal is structured,
there's enough money deferred so the Tigers still have more money
to spend this winter. It's not exactly like taking the money
they had pegged for Verlander and putting it all into the market,
but it's a compromise that could help if they get into a bidding war.
Where does the club stand on Franklyn German?
Did he show enough the final month to get another
look? I believe I heard Jim Price say that he doesn't
have enough pitches to get Major Leaguers out.
Physically and agewise, he still has an upside.
-- Pat
German still needs something other then the splitter and
fastball to have some long-term success. But at this point,
he needs to worry about spotting the pitches he already has
for strikes. His splitter is unhittable if he can set it up
with something else. His age, huge frame and potential require
that he's still in the Tigers' plans, but he needs to show some
consistency under heat next year.
--
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