Tazawa To Sign With The Red Sox...Is Boston Looking At Derek Lowe? YES!

The Boston Red Sox and Japanese pitcher Junichi Tazawa have agreed to a three year deal worth three million dollars. It is said that Junichi will be coming to Boston for a complete physical and will sign the contract by week's end. As I wrote a couple of posts ago, there is a very slim chance we will see him hurling in the big leagues in 2009. He'll probably go to the Double A level affiliate to learn all that he can from that pitching dominated AA level of play. That's one more piece added to the puzzle that is next year's team. Here's another, just conjecture on this first day of December, my favorite month of the year (my birthday is the 10th).

Nick Carfado of the Boston Globe reported over the weekend that free agent and old friend Derek Lowe is interested in coming back to his old haunt. Lowe said this...

"If you're looking four or five years down the line, they fit the criteria of what I'm looking for," said Lowe. "It's not just the fact I played there - but, yeah, there were a lot of things I enjoyed - but they're definitely a franchise that has a chance to win."

And according to the New York Daily News and the Globe's Adam Kilgore...

The Mets "don't expect to outbid either the Yankees or Red Sox for Lowe, if it comes to that, especially with agent Scott Boras putting out the word that he's looking for a five-year deal in the $15 million-$16 million a year range," according to the New York Daily News . . . According to Boras, numerous teams have contacted him about the Dodgers' free agent righthander, writes the Globe's Adam Kilgore. "There is a very aggressive market for Derek," Boras said. "A widespread number of teams are interested.

Peter here...my thanks to the Globe and the Daily News for putting out that easily found information. OK, time for my thoughts. Tazawa's signing is a no-lose deal for Boston. Three years at one million bucks per year is chump change for John Henry and life-changing money to young Junichi. It's good news all around...if Tazawa can develop his pitching skills the way I think he will, and he has all the raw skills to do just that, he'll be with the big club next year (2010) at the latest and he'll join his pitching idol, our very own Daisuke Matsuzaka, in the formidible Boston pitching rotation. Good luck, Junichi. Welcome to America's brand of baseball, the game you love. We do, too!

As for Derek Lowe, yes, he can still pitch. Can he keep on keeping on for five years? That remains to be seen, but if Boston lands him and he WANTS to be here, which seems to be the case, well, it's all good. We know a team can never have too many starting pitchers, especially a sinker ball ground ball inducing pitcher like Lowe. Hey Derek, come back home!

Thanks for stopping in to my place and welcome to December. You can title click for more news on the Tazawa and Lowe fronts...for a slow baseball news day, the Sox are adding all the little pieces before they (I hope) land "the big fish." As always, BE WELL. Shalom to one and all. Your comments are needed and appreciated. I'll answer every one of 'em.