Athlete of the Day: Mike Lowell

I got word this morning that it is very likely that my favorite Red Sox player, Mike Lowell, will be traded to the Texas Rangers. I understand that it is a move that will more than likely make the Sox better, which I can appreciate, but baseball players that I become attached to are one of the few things that I am sentimental about…so I’ll be sad to see Lowell go.

I am, however, legitimately upset by the fact that the Sox will end up paying $9 million of Mike Lowell’s $12 million expected salary for 2010. I love baseball but no athlete deserves $12 million for their work and the fact that the Red Sox eat such large portions of the contracts of players they trade (see Julio Lugo and Edgar Renteria for just a couple of examples) is ridiculous. I’m a big supporter of a salary cap but the MLBPA is far too strong so I doubt that it will happen anytime soon.

Thanks for your four years of service Mike Lowell. Your work is appreciated.