Derek Lowe, Johnny Damon Would Really Be Valuable to Red Sox Nowadays

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May 10, 2012

Derek Lowe, Johnny Damon Would Really Be Valuable to Red Sox NowadaysIt’s been eight years since Johnny Damon and Derek Lowe helped lead the Red Sox to their first World Series title in 86 years, but there’s still something special about watching them step foot on the Fenway Park dirt.

As Damon and Lowe return to Boston for a four-game set as members of the Cleveland Indians, not only do their championship efforts come to mind, but it’s also clear the current Red Sox squad could still use each player today.

A lot has happened since the two played together in Boston from 2002 to 2004. Damon has lost some Beantown supporters as a result of him trading his red socks for pinstripes following the 2005 season, and he’s since become primarily a DH while deviating from his previous speedster mentality. Lowe, meanwhile, has yielded mixed results, although he’s shown promise throughout the early part of this season.

But if either player were to once again throw on a Red Sox jersey, it’d serve as a boost to the club even if the ensuing numbers weren’t startling.

The Sox were well within their right to let Lowe walk away following the 2004 season. Four years and $36 million was far too much to invest in a starter who was coming off a season in which he posted a 5.42 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. Lowe did earn the victory in each playoff series-clinching game that ’04 postseason, but baseball remains a business, and the wise financial move was to let the tall righty walk, even if he had become a fan favorite.

Boston again made the right decision in letting Damon punch his ticket out of town following the 2005 season. Damon was coming off an All-Star season with the Sox, but again, from a business standpoint, four years and $52 million was far too much to spend on the then-center fielder.

The financial commitment for the aging veterans is now far less, however. And although it’s probably unlikely we’ll see either player make a triumphant return to the Boston clubhouse any time soon, each would be a welcomed addition.

Damon served primarily as a designated hitter the past two seasons — with Detroit and Tampa Bay — but he’s since rejoined the outfield as a member of the Tribe. With Boston’s outfield situation still a bit in flux as a result of the injuries to Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford, Damon would fit a distinct need. In fact, Daniel Nava was called up prior to Thursday’s game so that Bobby Valentine had a left-handed outfield option. And while Nava could prove to be serviceable during his tenure in the big leagues this season, a veteran like Damon could go a long way toward stabilizing a team that’s still trying to find its identity.

Speaking of needs, the Red Sox could use a hurler or two. Sure, Valentine and Co. will already be forced to make some difficult decisions regarding the rotation when Daisuke Matsuzaka and Aaron Cook return, but the old adage that “you can never have enough pitching” is just like “defense wins championships” — as true as it gets.

Lowe has struggled a bit in his post-Dodger days, sputtering through three seasons with the Braves before getting dealt to the Indians. But he’s starting to right the ship in Cleveland, entering Thursday’s start against his former team with a 4-1 record and a 2.39 ERA through six starts this season. That’s production the Sox would drool over.

Most importantly, however, Damon and Lowe would each bring the passion that Red Sox Nation loves to root for. Not to take anything away from this year’s cast of Red Sox players, but the team has definitely seen better days. Most notably, 2004.

Maybe a blast from the past is just what the doctor ordered.

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