Yankees Sign Veteran Right-Hand Pitcher Derek Lowe!
With ace C.C. Sabathia recently going on the 15-day disabled list, the New York Yankees have signed veteran right-hander Derek Lowe to take Sabathia’s place on their roster and add some pitching depth to the team.
Lowe, who was released by the Cleveland Indians last Friday after going 8-10 with a 5.52 ERA over 21 starts for the team will not start, but rather come out of the bullpen for the Yankees.
He has started most of his career for the various teams he has played for, but this isn’t the first time he has pitched out of relief either. Lowe actually started his major league career as a reliever for the Seattle Mariners in 1997 before being sent not even a month after being called up with now retired catcher Jason Varitek to the Boston Red Sox in a blockbuster trade that landed the Mariners closer Heathcliff Slocumb. He would split time starting and relieving his first two seasons in Boston and later come into his own as a closer in 1999 finishing the season with 15 saves and a 2.63 ERA before having his best season as a closer in 2000, as he lead the American League with 42 saves to go along with a 2.56 ERA.
The 39-year-old veteran hasn’t pitched out of the bullpen since the year after that with the Red Sox. He has 278 career relief appearances to go with a 18-22 record and a 2.95 ERA, while holding opponents to a .248 batting average. His career record he will bring to him with the Bronx though is 174-156 with a 4.01 ERA.
