At least, that's how Boston Globe reporter Nick Cafardo is telling it:
Derek Lowe is putting Boston first on his list of preferred destinations now that he's a free agent.
Lowe told this reporter that while money is important, he wants to go to a quality organization committed to winning, and no organization, in his mind, fits that description better than Boston.
What about the Dodgers? Lowe apparently isn't getting the vibe that LA wants him back, and considering he's still a little peeved at being taken out of Game 4 of the NLCS after just five innings, that's probably just fine with him.
Lowe is already 35 years old, but he's coming off his best season in six years, posting a 3.24 ERA and 1.13 WHIP over 211 innings, so there should be no shortage of teams interested in throwing ungodly sums of money in his direction. According to Cafardo, no fewer than 12 teams are believed to be interested in Lowe, including the usual big-money spenders such as both New York teams, the Tigers and the cross-town Angels.
While Boston may be on top of Lowe's list now, don't be surprised if the Tigers make a push. First and foremost, the Tigers need pitching to complement their high-octane lineup. But secondly, Lowe was born and raised in nearby Dearborn, MI, which is just minutes from downtown Detroit -- his high school was a mere 12 miles away from old Tiger Stadium. This may very well be the last contract he ever signs, and it has to be at least a little intriguing for him to finish his career in front of his friends and family with the team he grew up cheering for.
