Post by blkpanther on Nov 17, 2007 12:08:05 GMT -5
sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3115704
While several media outlets are reporting that the New York Yankees are offering free agent third baseman Mike Lowell a luctrative deal to play first base, it appears the Yankees' interest in the World Series MVP may be waning.
ESPN's Peter Gammons reported that while Lowell's agents, brothers Seth and Sam Levinson have remained in touch with the Yankees, several sources indicated that they are now inclined to use Shelley Duncan and Jason Giambi at first rather than lure Lowell from the Red Sox and move him across the diamond.
The New York Daily News also reported that according to sources, a Boston-area TV report the Yankees had offered Lowell a four-year deal worth between $50 million and $55 million to play first was "pure fantasy" -- and that the Yankees were not interested in a major investment in another first baseman.
The Red Sox have reportedly offered Lowell a three-year offer worth between $35 million and $45 million.
Lowell followed a superlative regular season -- career highs in batting average (.324) and RBIs (120) to go with 21 home runs in 154 games -- with an outstanding October. In Boston's four-game sweep of Colorado, Lowell hit .400 (6-for-15) with four RBIs, three walks and a team-high six runs in winning the World Series.
He homered, doubled and scored twice in the Game 4 clincher at Denver's Coors Field.
Lowell, who made $9 million last year, was selected by the Yankees in the 20th round of the 1995 amateur draft. He played eight games for New York in the 1998 season before being dealt to the Florida Marlins in February 1999. He was acquired by Boston from Florida in November 2005 in the Josh Beckett trade.
ESPN baseball analyst Peter Gammons and The Associated Press contributed to this report.