Derek Lowe Traded to Indians
By Editorial Staff
The Atlanta Braves have traded starting pitcher Derek Lowe to the Cleveland Indians. Buster Olney is reporting that the Braves will send $10 million to Cleveland as a part of the deal, covering two-thirds of the $15 million owed to Lowe in 2012. Olney also states that in return for Lowe and cash, Atlanta is receiving left-handed pitching prospect Chris Jones.
Lowe, 38, has spent the last three seasons with the Braves. Signing his current four year, $60 million deal with Atlanta in 2009, Lowe didn’t turn out to be a particularly sound investment. Though he did average over 190 innings pitched per year, Lowe wasn’t able to maintain a season ERA south of 4.00 during his time with the Braves.
But, while Lowe wasn’t impressive in 2009-10, he was downright awful in 2011. Over his 34 starts and 187 innings pitched, Lowe held an ERA and WHIP of 5.05 and 1.508, finishing the year with a record of 9-17.
Adding to his on-the-field problems, Lowe was arrested for driving under the influence this April. Lowe, who was reported to have been racing before his stop, was also charged with reckless driving and an improper lane change.
Jones was drafted by the Indians in the 15th round of the 2007 amateur draft. The 23-year-old reliever spent all of 2011 with Cleveland’s High-A affiliate, posting an ERA of 3.36 over his 72.1 innings pitched. During his five seasons in the Minors, Jones has surrendered 3.4 BB/9 while striking out just over eight batters per nine innings.
For more on the Braves and Indians, be sure to check out Tomahawk Take and Wahoo’s on First.