MLB

After losing John Smoltz to the Boston Red Sox, the Atlanta Braves have signed Derek Lowe to a 4 year $60 million contract. Lowe, most recently of the Los Angeles Dodgers also, played with Boston prior to the Dodgers. In four years with the Dodgers Lowe went 54-48, with sub 3.90 eras every year and averaged 200 innings. He was considered widely at the lowest the third best pitcher on the market. At 35 this may be Lowe's final contract, although pitchers have been throwing into their 40's in recent years. And on top of recent trends, Lowe is not your typical power pitcher who loses stuff as he gets older rather he is a ground ball pitcher who relys more movement and location. Although at $15 million a year it shows how deals,such as the Sabathia deal, affect the rest of the market.

Joining Lowe in Atlanta is Japanese import, the first Japanese-born player in franchise history, Kenshin Kawakami who signed a three year contract. A successful pitcher in Japan, winning the Central League MVP in 2004, he accumulated 112 wins in 11 seasons, he was widely regarded as one of the top Japanese free-agents on the market. In recent years there has been an in flux of Japanese pitchers, that tend to start strong but then fizzle out after the league adjusts seemingly unable to adjust to the teams new approach. Part of this may be because of the language barrier, but another may be the fact that by the time players come to the Majors they are already approaching or into their 30's and are already set in their way, not wanting to change their habits, plus they have already reached their peak and in some cases are already declining.

Smoltz finalized a one year $5.5 million contract with the Red Sox, and expects to start for them. Coming off of a shoulder surgery, like new team mate Brad Penny, it's unclear how he will preform. After 22 seasons with the Atlanta Braves this will be his first time playing for a different Major League team. This may be Smoltz's final season, but with a competitor like him it's hard to tell, only he truly knows, and at this point he may not yet either.



-Daemon