http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/10/noah-lowry-to-become-a-free-agent.html

 I saw that yesterday and mentioned him in the Bowden thread.  I think he could be a decent pickup.  He hasn't pitched since 2007, but he only had one season with an ERA over 4, plus his agent claims he's fully healthy.  I definitely think he could be worth a minor league contract.

 Heck yeah!

Buy low on him and Mulder. Low risk, maybe could turn into a bullpen arm. 

Lowry is good because he's young enough that he could stay in the minors for a year or two and then maybe come back as a Randy Wells type pitcher (late 20s, breakout).

When the statement that Melvin should be creative is thrown around, this is exactly the kind of thing he needs to do to bolster the staff (possible rotation but also a possible long-reliever).

TheDude:

When the statement that Melvin should be creative is thrown around, this is exactly the kind of thing he needs to do to bolster the staff (possible rotation but also a possible long-reliever).

 

Exactly. At worst, he cannot pitch and there are injury issues. Maybe at best, he becomes a functional starter. In between, a warm body for the pen.

I am in favor of low cost minor league contracts for pitchers.

How much precedent is there for guys like this to turn into a solid starting pitcher? 

TheDude:

How much precedent is there for guys like this to turn into a solid starting pitcher? 

 

That's a great question. I'm on vacation this week, I'll try to survey it.

In the meantime,  in Lowry's case specifically, he started his career with a strong strike out rate, meaning that should his stuff return at a certain percentage of his past performance level, we might be able to project his ability to pitch at a certain level according to shifts in balls in play rate, walk rate, home run rate, etc.

I am suspicious that he will become a good pitcher or even a serviceable pitcher, but should he reach that level, we can probably estimate a level of performance with decline in K rate, perhaps worse walk rate, and then various defensive efficiency levels.

 Great idea.  I love it.

More buy low options (either FAs or Trade - not all SP):

- John Garland's option was just declined by the LAD

- Daniel Cabrera's option was just declined by ARI

- JJ Putz's option just declined by Mets

- Chien Meng Wang likely to be non-tendered

For the record I'm not really liking any of the above....any body going to convince me otherwise? These are all on mlbtr.

WiscoSports:

More buy low options (either FAs or Trade - not all SP):

- John Garland's option was just declined by the LAD

- Daniel Cabrera's option was just declined by ARI

- JJ Putz's option just declined by Mets

- Chien Meng Wang likely to be non-tendered

For the record I'm not really liking any of the above....any body going to convince me otherwise? These are all on mlbtr.

I guess that's why they're buy low options.  Garland's the best, but that's not saying much.  Someone will overpay for him.

 I like a low cost flyer on the Wang-ster.

like the idea of Peterson working with him and working him back to health.

I was going to say, "sign Cabrera for his fastball," but it has declined from 96 to 94 to 92 to 90, on average, within his six year career.

BTW, Kevin Correia is one of my favorite free agency depth options.

radio silence:

I was going to say, "sign Cabrera for his fastball," but it has declined from 96 to 94 to 92 to 90, on average, within his six year career.

BTW, Kevin Correia is one of my favorite free agency depth options.

Cabrera saw his fastball velocity increase later in the season, though, so I still would not be opposed to signing him to a minor-league deal. In his final outing against the Cubs, Cabrera routinely threw in the 92-94 MPH range.

It would depend on the price to get me on the Correia bandwagon. I do like how he began throwing his fastball less and incorporated more of a curveball into his repertoire, however.

Einsteinhood:

 I like a low cost flyer on the Wang-ster.

like the idea of Peterson working with him and working him back to health.

+1