Right when the Breeder’s Cup betting starts to wind down, the MLB off-season starts to get heated up. Some of the early headlines in MLB are being made by pitchers. One veteran pitcher has been moved, another veteran pitcher is awaiting word and a superstar pitcher has been given a contract extension.
Pitcher Derek Lowe has been in MLB for 15 years. In 2012, he was scheduled to play his 16th year in Atlanta and make $15 million to do so. But the price per head sportsbook experts are reporting that Lowe will play that 16th season in Cleveland instead. The Braves trade Lowe to the Indians for minor league pitching prospect Chris Jones. The Braves will pay $10 million of Lowe’s contract for 2012, and the Indians will pay $5 million. Cleveland will be the sixth team that Lowe has played for in his career.
While Derek Lowe packs his bags for Cleveland, New York Yankees’ ace C.C. Sabathia has been signed to a contract extension that will keep him in the Big Apple until at least 2016. The intertops contract extension is worth $30 million if Sabathia plays only one year, or it could be worth $50 million if he plays both seasons of his new contract extension.
Veteran knuckleball pitcher Tim Wakefield has done everything the Red Sox have needed him to do throughout his career. When the Red Sox’ starting lineup started to fall apart with injuries, Wakefield stepped in and had a 7-8 season as a starter and also pitched some from the bullpen as well. Wakefield’s contract will run out when free agency starts, and he has not been offered a deal from Boston yet. The 45-year-old has indicated that he wants to play next year and he would like to do so with the Red Sox.
