Story and Art by Jim Reilly, southcoast247.com associate editor
November 9th, 2007
"We Like Mike!"
You’ve really got to hand it to Curt Schilling. Here’s a guy who truly does walk the talk. He announced earlier this season that he wanted to play one more season before hanging up his cleats, and said how he wanted that final season to be in a Red Sox uniform. After a very brief “free agent” period in which Curt didn’t even entertain the offers of other teams, the pitcher signed a one year, $8 million dollar pact with the Red Sox, leaving what many say could have amounted to three times that much sitting on the table were he to have waited and negotiated with other teams. San Diego, it’s reported, was willing to shell out north of $15 million for one year of Curt, while other teams were said to have been willing to offer equally lucrative multiyear contracts. In the end, though, Schilling wanted to finish his career as a Red Sox, and took a substantial paycut (at least in terms of base salary – Schilling can make upwards of $14 million if he lives up to the incentives in his new deal) to make sure that he did the right thing for himself, his family, his teammates, and his fans. We’ve heard the free agent talk from everyone from Pedro to Fisk and Damon to Lynn, but this is the first time I can remember a Red Sox player doing everything in his power to remain with the team rather than pursuing better financial offers elsewhere. In a time where rooting for laundry has become something of a necessity, it’s nice to know that I can wear my Curt Schilling jersey for many years to come, knowing that I rooted for a true blue Red Sox player who really understands and appreciates the passion of Red Sox Nation.
Another free agent, MVP Mike Lowell, has also made it clear that Boston is his first choice, and, it seems, the Red Sox have made resigning the veteran a priority. All reports indicate that Lowell wanted at least a three year deal, and the same reports indicate that the Red Sox have said deal on the table, and have had it there for a few days, now. Conventional wisdom (at least when it comes to free agency) is that if a deal sits for more than 24 hours, its considered dead, and the sides either part ways or work toward compromise. In this situation, it seems that the Red Sox have put their best foot forward (some estimate the contract’s annual value at $14 million per), but, with his blockbuster year and World Series MVP trophy, has Lowell’s commitment to return changed? There’s a huge groundswell of Lowell supporters rallying for resigning the 33 year old third basemen, but fans have to understand that Lowell is coming off of a career year, and entering that dangerous territory in which players begin their decline. If Lowell wants to hold out for 4 or 5 or even 6 years, there are teams who will give it to him (Yankees), and will reward him justly. Do Red Sox fans really want a multimillion dollar commitment to a 38 year old Mike Lowell? How about 40? With the lack of free agent talent available to fill the hot corner, Lowell finds himself in a very attractive position. Even if his agents demand 5 years at $20 million a season, Lowell looks like a bargain compared to the ten year, $350 million dollars Alex Rodriguez and Scott Boras are looking for. Seeing as how the Yankees are “officially” out of the A-Rod sweepstakes, it isn’t unrealistic to expect the Steinbrenner sons to break open the piggy bank for Lowell, especially since the next best option would be trading away their most alluring prospects for Florida’s Miguel Cabrera – a 24 year old hitting phenom/defensive liability who has been struggling with both weight and personality issues. Make no mistake; once Lowell hits the open market (the period where his agents can start talking dollars and cents with other teams), the Red Sox three year deal will look like the sort of “slap in the face” offers passed over by Johnny Damon and Pedro Martinez.
Now, one of the main reasons fans want Lowell back in Boston is the fact that he seems to be a player of strong character and integrity. If he chooses to sign with the Yankees for twice as much time and money as the Red Sox are willing to offer him, however, he will become as much of a pariah as Johnny Damon; perhaps more so seeing as how Damon had already exhibited signs of mercenary behavior prior to his stint with the Red Sox! Can you imagine Mike Lowell doing that to Red Sox fans? Neither can I.
Let’s hope Mike Lowell shares more in common with Curt Schilling than just both looking like they’re forty years old, and does what’s good for him, good for his teammates, and good for baseball. In a time where greed is king, it would speak volumes about the passion of Boston baseball fans if two of this year’s most coveted free agents took a hometown discount to keep playing here. Then again, why would anyone want to play anywhere else? Just ask A-rod.
You’ve really got to hand it to Curt Schilling. Here’s a guy who truly does walk the talk. He announced earlier this season that he wanted to play one more season before hanging up his cleats, and said how he wanted that final season to be in a Red Sox uniform. After a very brief “free agent” period in which Curt didn’t even entertain the offers of other teams, the pitcher signed a one year, $8 million dollar pact with the Red Sox, leaving what many say could have amounted to three times that much sitting on the table were he to have waited and negotiated with other teams. San Diego, it’s reported, was willing to shell out north of $15 million for one year of Curt, while other teams were said to have been willing to offer equally lucrative multiyear contracts. In the end, though, Schilling wanted to finish his career as a Red Sox, and took a substantial paycut (at least in terms of base salary – Schilling can make upwards of $14 million if he lives up to the incentives in his new deal) to make sure that he did the right thing for himself, his family, his teammates, and his fans. We’ve heard the free agent talk from everyone from Pedro to Fisk and Damon to Lynn, but this is the first time I can remember a Red Sox player doing everything in his power to remain with the team rather than pursuing better financial offers elsewhere. In a time where rooting for laundry has become something of a necessity, it’s nice to know that I can wear my Curt Schilling jersey for many years to come, knowing that I rooted for a true blue Red Sox player who really understands and appreciates the passion of Red Sox Nation.
