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For free-agent pitchers, it's buyer beware
History has shown that mediocre pitching (or worse) can carry a very steep price on the free-agent market, which is why Theo Epstein appears content to let other clubs make the mistakes.
Buyer Beware
Buyer Beware
whysmyheadgrowing.blogspot.com — No team goes into the free agent signing period looking to fail. Nobody wants to hoard all... the lemons, the has-beens, the worthless, the destined-for-failure...but somehow, the Yankees have been doing so over the past 4 off-seasons. (more) Buyer Beware
Matt Holliday? Let the Buyer Beware
stltoday.com — Matt Holliday? Let the Buyer Beware (more) Matt Holliday? Let the Buyer Beware

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Red Sox Inquire On Lowe
MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com — ... According to Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe, the Red Sox have inquired on free agent starter on Derek Lowe.  Scott Boras even gave them one of his infamous books hyping the 35 year-old righty.  Massarotti figures the Red Sox consider Lowe a safer bet than A.J. Burnett or Ben Sheets. ...

Should the Sox sign Derek Lowe?
Over the Monster — I was really happy when Derek Lowe left the Red Sox after the 2004 season. My feelings were primarily due in part because I knew he wasn't worth the type of money he was going to demand. He ended up going to the Dodgers and having a great couple of seasons. But now I wouldn't mind getting him back. The Globe's Tony Massarotti says the Red Sox have talked to agent Scott Boras about Lowe: With regard to this year's market, in particular, a major league source has confirmed that the Sox have inquired with agent Scott Boras ...

Hot Stove Update
Fenway West - A Boston Red Sox Blog — A few items of note this morning: The Red Sox are looking at adding some starting pitching and have talked with Boras about D-Lowe and are talking with the Padres about Jake Peavy. Add Miguel Montero to the list of possible options behind the plate for the Sox. ...

Hot or not?
The Soxaholix — ... Doug: The only rumahs are that there are no rumahs. ...

Buzz: Derek Lowe, Sabathia and Freddy
MetsBlog.com — The Red Sox have been in contact with Scott Boras about free-agent RHP Derek Lowe, according to the Boston Herald. …it seems to me that lowe will wait until CC Sabathia signs with the either the Yankees or Angels, at which point he will shop himself to the Yankees, Angels, Mets, Dodgers, Red Sox, etc., all of whom have been linked to him in rumor so far this off-season… Speaking of Sabathia, according to Joel Sherman ...

A Lazy Sunday Looking For Relief
The DiaTribe — ... Staying with The Globe, here’s an interesting piece by Tony Massarotti from earlier in the week that lays out the pitfalls of adding pitchers through Free Agency and a terrific breakdown of how difficult it is to build a bullpen in particular. Obviously, the piece comes with heavy Red Sox analysis, but the lessons that Massarotti lays out hold true for any team, regardless of market size or payroll. ...

Is Derek Lowe The Best Value Free Agent Starter?
The Big Lead — ... Boras-client Derek Lowe, the next step down, won’t come cheaply.  Though, even if Boras gets his price, $15 million per season according to the Boston Globe, Lowe likely comes in a more manageable three-year $45 million or four-year $60 million package. ...

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Free-agent market for pitchers is a dangerous place
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