Sources: Tigers interested in Braves

[TheKingofSting]

The Tigers, who currently have a vacancy in their starting rotation, are interested in acquiring veteran right-hander Derek Lowe from the Braves, major-league sources told FOXSports.com.
The sources indicated that the sides have not had serious talks, and Lowe’s high salary could be a big barrier for Detroit. He is owed roughly $6 million over the rest of this season and $15 million next year.

But the Tigers have made a starting pitcher their No. 1 priority, and the price in prospects for Lowe would be much less than the acquisition cost on Colorado ace Ubaldo Jimenez.
Why would the Braves consider trading Lowe when they are currently atop the National League wild card standings? For one thing, he has the second-highest ERA (4.30) among the Braves’ current starters. The Atlanta farm system is rich in pitching, and it’s possible that a stud prospect such as Julio Teheran or Mike Minor could approximate Lowe’s performance over the remainder of this season.
The Braves want a right-handed hitting outfielder, but they wouldn’t necessarily need to get that player from Detroit. Even if the Tigers pay only $2 million of Lowe’s salary this season, the Braves could use that savings to put toward paying a hitter that they acquire from another team. The Braves, who are owned by publicly traded Liberty Media, don’t have an abundance of payroll flexibility, so a $2 million reprieve (or something similar) could make a big difference for them.
Lowe, 38, hasn’t pitched for an American League team since 2004, so the Tigers may have some reservations about bringing him back to the more offensive league. And all things being equal, the Tigers would like to add a left-handed starter to a rotation that currently lacks one.

But Lowe, a Michigan native, has good career numbers at Comerica Park. It doesn’t hurt that the Tigers and Braves have been frequent trade partners in recent years.

http://mlbbuzz.yardbarker.com/blog/mlbb ... we/5573029

If we are able to dump that ugly contract on someone then FW deserves every award ever made for Front office purposes.

[HMFFL]

I hope we can reach a deal with them. I've mentioned his contract on here before , but any saved money will go directly towards our young talent this off-season, and most likely allows us to keep who we need for our future.

[ohara]

Jerry Crasnick at ESPN had a chat session today and said the Lowe to Tigers talk is being overblown. Then I saw a post on the Braves ESPN site who said Detroit was wanting the Braves to pay 75% of Lowe's contract. (He did not provide a link, so it may be bogus talk) I'm all for trading Lowe for the right price, but giving him up and paying 75% of his contract is crazy. Rather keep him and let him help us in the playoff run rather than practically give him to Detroit.

[Nemesis21]

I'm going to say the Braves should keep Lowe, can still move him in the off season. Lowe typically is a 2nd half pitcher, he is 20+ games over .500 during the 2nd half and 2 games under .500 in the first half. Remember he went 5-0 with an ERA under 2.00 last September.
I'm not ready to go into the playoffs with a rotation of Jurrjens, Hanson, Hudson, Beachy, Minor/Teheran, I'd rather go with this rotation Jurrjens, Hanson, Hudson, Lowe, Beachy.

[ohara]

Cannot argue with that Nemesis. But if moving him gives us a big right handed bat in either Center or Left Field, I'm all for it. I have faith in Wren to do the right thing.

[HMFFL]

The Braves won't pay 75% of his contract. I doubt Lowe gets moved, but having the money to spend on our young free agents this off-season would be helpful, and it's unknown what type of money the ownership is willing to spend. I think at best we stay home this off-season and sign our own young talent, so I doubt we sign any top tier players outside of our system.

Lowe frustrates me, but he also provides us with depth, and we'll need it as the season progresses.

[ohara]

That number of the Braves having to pay at least 75% of the salary of Lowe came from a Jerry Crasnick tweet. So I dont know if he has inside info or if he was just speculating. But no deal will happen for those numbers. But considering Lowe is traditionally a strong 2nd half pitcher, either we keep him or someone pays a ton more of his salary for a deal.

[Superiorblogman]

I am all for trading Lowe he is paid the most and is arguable our worse starting rotation pitcher. Not sure what we would get from Detroit worth it