Shortstop Jed Lowrie likely to stay with Houston Astros for 2013 - MLB News
The Houston Astros are keen on retaining their shortstop Jed Lowrie unless they get an offer that they cannot refuse. Lowrie is considered a hot commodity in a thin shortstop market at the moment. It has been suggested that several teams have serious interest
in the switch hitter for both his offensive and defensive abilities.
Lowrie will most likely have salary arbitration and may end up with a near $2 million salary in 2013, which by his current numbers seems more than just reasonable. The 28-year-old had a batting average of .244 with a .331 on-base percentage and hit 16 home-runs
in 387 at-bats. The numbers could have been better had he not been on the disabled list for more than once due to ankle and thumb injuries.
His career numbers are not bad either. The native from Salem, Oregon has a batting average of .250 with a .326 on-base percentage. What makes him even more desirable is his ability to hit left-handed pitchers against whom Lowrie maintains an average of .292
and an on-base percentage of .362. He is no mug with the glove either and has shown some flashes of brilliance in the field.
Jed started his professional career in the Red Sox farm system and quickly rose through the ranks due to his performance. He made his Major League debut in mid-April of 2008 for the Boston Red Sox.
The shortstop will have to pay special attention to his fitness though. Lowrie has been on the disabled list on six separate occasions since 2009, speaking volumes about his fitness issues.
Astros are in a struggling phase at the moment. They are expected to spend about $30 million in salaries in the 2013 season, which is just over half of the current lowest being paid by the San Diego Padres. Letting go of a player of Jed’s quality, who was
acquired from the Boston Red Sox last off-season, will certainly not be advisable.
Astros currently have another shortstop option in the shape of Tyler Greene who performed well after joining the team in 2012. They also have Jake Elmore, who was claimed off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Jake had a fantastic Triple-A season with
Reno in 2012. Whether they can be as good as Jed or otherwise, it will be very hard to say.
Houston are certainly looking to avoid another 100 plus defeat seasons. The team will be moving to the American League West in 2012, a very competitive group of teams indeed. Astros lack quite a bit in several fields of the game and Jed Lowrie is one of
the brighter prospects that the team had in an otherwise poor season. If he gets traded for some novice pitchers to be assigned to the Minors, it may be not be the best move by the Astros for the next season.
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