Which one would you take? They are all left on the market. Of course we can't do anything until the Beltran stuff is done. I am figuring that if Beltran comes back we get Clemens back for this year. We still need another starter after letting Miller walk. Wonder if we have a chance at any of the three. I would like to have either Perez or Lowe.
Millwood would be pretty bad in Minute Maid. I suspect he'll either go back to the Braves, or a team like LA or SD with a pitcher's park. Same with Perez, another flyball-type pitcher. On the other hand, groundball pitchers would have had trouble in Houston if Jeff Kent were still at 2B, but now that he's gone Lowe's the best bet. Except that he's represented by Scott Boras.
I'd strike Lowe off the list immediately. Other than his outworldly performance in the postseason, the guy was terrible last year. There's a reason why the no-financial-restraints Red Sox didn't even bother to make an effort at resigning the guy. He just doesn't have any sort of consistent track record for a multi-year contract. I'd probably go with Perez, due to his agent(not Boras) and the fact that he has the least name recognition among the pitchers left. So he'll probably come at a lot lower price. 3 yrs/$15 mil seems reasonable if he'd take that.
No, he's gonna be a stud but is not a FA. The guy who's available is Odalis Perez of the Dodgers. Perez is decent, inflated stats because of his home park. A 3rd or 4th pitcher on a decent team. Lowe is a yo-yo. Terrible one year, great another. (Or last season, terrible regular season, playoff stud). His 2000 (closer) and 2002 (starter) were awesome, but I don't think I'd pay the money hoping he'd return to that form. Millwood's another 3rd or 4th starter who had 2 good seasons and a bunch of lousy ones. I wouldn't pay any of those guys more than 3 mil per.
