What should we do with Jed Lowrie?
- Have him be our top option from Pawtucket all year and then look to integrate him in 2009.
42% of all votes
- Trade Julio Lugo and make Lowrie the starting SS.
34% of all votes
- Trade Alex Cora and make Lowrie the backup.
14% of all votes
- Trade him for a need at the deadline.
9% of all votes
As appealing as it may be to trade Julio Lugo, I think we got it right on this one. Let’s get his feet wet this year and then integrate him in 2009. Who knows, maybe Lugo can hit .280 and we can dump him on a NL team. The Red Sox realize a sunk cost when they know one; they won’t hesitate to eat money.
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As Lowrie is much like Pedroia at the plate and in the field, I plugged Pedroia’s numbers into a comparison of eight top shortstops, adding a little for stolen bases and home runs, and adjusting BA down.
Using this reasonable assumption, Lowrie would count in the best 4 or 5 in either league in BA, Hits, Runs, HR, RBI, BB, and E. His minor league averages and plate discipline support this. His limited MLB at bats support this. He has already proven his few naysayers wrong with his bat and in the field at 3b, SS and 2b; and he shares billing with Jacoby and Dustin as a team sparkplug. He is much more than a utility infielder.
Julio may indeed hit .280 with 12 HR, 75RBI, 35SB and 20E. He is a good shortstop, should improve this year, and would be an upgrade for most teams.
The questions are, how soon will Jed be accepted as a superior one, MLB ready, and how soon will we stop talking about him as trade bait, and get him in the lineup?