Cleveland's once future superstar Grady Sizemore becomes free agent

[Auggie]

ESPN.com news services / ESPN.com news services

CLEVELAND -- Once the Indians' leadoff hitter, their constantly hustling All-Star outfielder and the undisputed face of their franchise, Grady Sizemore meant everything to Cleveland.

It couldn't last forever.

The Indians declined Sizemore's $9 million contract option for 2012 on Monday, cutting ties with the popular injury-plagued center fielder and making him eligible for free agency.

"This was an exceptionally difficult decision," general manager Chris Antonetti said. "We have a profound respect for Grady, his work ethic, his intensity and all the attributes he brings to the game. Baseball is a better game when Grady Sizemore is on the field playing."

MORE: http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7173950/cleveland-indians-decline-grady-sizemore-deal

The article mentions his injury total: limited to 210 games the past three seasons.... has undergone five surgeries -- two on his knees -- in the past three years. No longer a stealing threat. Personally, I thought his defensive and baserunning play was rather reckless and that offensively he often exhibited a lack of discipline at the plate. But that's IMO. Still, I wouldn't mind seeing him in a Giants uniform -- if he can stay healthy.

Meanwhile, Cleveland has acquired pitcher Derek Lowe from the Braves... who posted a 9-17 record in 2011. :eyes:

[Kingofalldems]

1. He just can't stay healthy

Trivia: He was involved in one of the most infamous trades ever.
Omar Minaya (Expos) traded Sizemore, Cliff Lee and Brandon Phillips for a rental on Bartolo Colon.

[Auggie]

2. Yeah, I remember that

Great trade. The sidebar on Lee, BTW:

From Wiki:

In 2007, Lee suffered a groin strain during a spring training start, forcing him to begin the regular season on the disabled list. He returned to the Indians rotation in May, but struggled to a 4–9 record and a 5.38 ERA in his first 16 starts. On July 21, Lee hit Texas Rangers' right fielder Sammy Sosa in the head with a pitch on a night when the Rangers were honoring Sosa for hitting his 600th home run. Love the irony.

Lee encountered even more problems on July 26, 2007, when he gave up 7 runs in 4 innings against the Boston Red Sox. When he left the ballgame, the fans booed him and right before he entered the dugout, he tipped his cap to the fans. The next day, July 27, the struggling left-hander was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo. He was called back up on September 1 when rosters expanded, but only appeared in 4 games, all out of the bullpen.

[Chan790]

3. D. Lowe's a headcase and always was.

It's why despite such great promise as a prospect Seattle was willing to throw him in to sweeten the V'tek for Slocumb deal...they figured all that talent wasn't worth it, he was still a high-risk prospect likely to bust being packaged with a C that the M's thought wasn't going to adjust to wooden bats and also bust. Two high-upside potential all-stars with very high risk attached. They lost on both ends of that deal...Slocumb did crap for them, Lowe and Tek were key pieces of the Red Sox for years.

Lowe can't shake things off and everything gets under his skin which f**ks up his pitching. It's why the Red Sox cut loose on him too even though he had the capability even then to shut people down when he was on and why every team since has cut ties too...he can't keep his head in the game. But, he's a 3-pitch lefty...slider, change-up, sinker with a mediocre fastball he pretty much never throws because it doesn't break 90MPH...there is no arm-strain there. He very well could pitch into his mid-forties like many knuckleballers.

Is he as bad as his 9-17 record? No. He's always been terrible when he's unhappy. He's an average pitcher and he has the ability to be very good still when he's on. As long as that's true, someone will take a flyer on him yearly.

[Mojambo]

4. Derek Lowe is a RHP. n/t

[Chan790]

5. You're right.

I don't know why I thought he was a lefty...he's still a headcase.

[TZ]

6. I saw him pitch on opening day and he was pretty good

You may be right on the headcase thing. He did not seem like the same guy at the end of the season...