Derek Lowe

At 50 years old, Derek Lowe has this physical status:

Baseball career

In the eighth round of the 1991 MLB draft, the Seattle Mariners drafted Lowe. He signed with the Mariners on June 7, 1991, forgoing his college education. He was immediately recalled by the Mariners to their rookie league team, where he went 5–3 with a 2.41 earned run average (ERA) in 12 starts.

He spent the next two years as a coach on various minor league teams: 1992 – Single-A Bellingham (7–6, 5.04, 26 starts), 1993 – Double-A Jacksonville (6.5, ten starts) – 1993 – Double-A Bellingham (7–9, 6.04, 16 starts) (Japan, 1994 – Triple-A Tacoma (6–9, 16.54, 16 starts), 1993 – Riverside, 5.36, 26 starts), 1993 – Double-A, 5.04 –

In relief against the Toronto Blue Jays, Lowe made his major league debut on April 26, 1997, going 3+2/3 innings. On May 27, he made his first major league appearance against the Minnesota Twins, giving up four runs in five innings. In the Mariners' 6–3 win, his first victory of his career came on June 6 against the Detroit Tigers, pitching 5+1/3 innings and giving up 3 runs.

Seattle, on the other hand, was desperate for immediate bullpen assistance, and Lowe and catcher Jason Varitek were bundled with the Boston Red Sox in a Heathcliff Slocumb contract. Woodward's vice president Woodward's trade on July 31 is considered one of the most lopsided in MLB history.

Lowe had a 5–15 record in his first two seasons, splitting time between working and recovering, but after being transferred to the closer's position in 1999, he fell into his own, posting 15 saves and a 2.63 ERA.

Lowe had his best season as a closer in 2000, when he led the American League with 42 saves and a 2.56 ERA. Lowe, who made 24 saves early in the 2001 season, resigned as the Red Sox acquired Urbina shortly after the trade deadline was met. Lowe was left limbo and was forced to do a variety of setup jobs in the bullpen. Lowe requested that manager Joe Kerrigan return him to the starting lineup, and he pitched 16 innings as a starter before the season came to an end. Lowe, a rookie in 2002, set a 21-08 record, a 2.58 ERA, and came third in Cy Young Award voting, behind Barry Zito and teammate Pedro Martnez. Lowe played with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Fenway Park on April 27th, the first pitcher to do so at Fenway Park since Dave Morehead in 1965. Lowe was reduced to just one over the minimum in the game; Brent Abernathy was the only one escaping Lowe from a perfect game. In addition, Lowe was the starting pitcher for the American League in the All-Star Game that year.

Despite a 4.47 ERA in 2003, Lowe set a 17-7 record. In Game 5 of the 2003 American League Division Series, he made an impressive save, aided by two straight strikeouts.

In 2004, he went 14–12 with a 5.42 ERA in 33 starts. He returned to action in four games with a 3–0 record and 1.86 ERA in four games, three of which were debuts. In Game 4 of the American League Championship Series against the Anaheim Angels, American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees, and World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals (where he threw shutout ball for 7 innings against Jason Marquis) as the Red Sox claimed their first World Series in 86 years. However, the victory over the Angels was a relief. At Yankee Stadium, Lowe later announced that the team would no longer have to hear "1918," a raucous chant mocking the Red Sox's previously undefeated championship victory.

Lowe signed a four-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers on January 11, 2005. Despite his move to a new team, Lowe wore a Red Sox uniform with his career-long number 32, during the Red Sox World Series ring celebration on April 11, 2005, after getting off for the Dodgers.

Lowe pitched his second no-hitter of his career on August 31, 2005. Lowe did not allow another Chicago hit after losing only 29 batters to give up a leadoff single to Cubs' Jerry Hairston Jr.

For the 2008 season, after being the Dodgers' opening day starter for the first three years, he was promoted to the second starting position, behind Brad Penny. Lowe was chosen by manager Joe Torre to begin Game 1 of the National League Championship series against the Philadelphia Phillies on October 9, 2008. Lowe started the game with five scoreless innings.

Both times that the Dodgers acquired Greg Maddux mid-season, Lowe did not do well after. Maddux appeared to have aided him greatly, and Maddux was often seen standing next to him in the dugout.

During the 2008–2009 offseason, Lowe agreed to a four-year, $60 million contract with the Atlanta Braves. Lowe will start both Opening Day and the Braves home opener for the 2009 season, according to manager Bobby Cox. Lowe beat the Phillies 4–1 on Opening Night, going 8 innings and giving up only 2 hits and 0 runs.

Lowe, along with Liván Hernández, was one of the only two active players in 2010 to have played 12 or more seasons without going on the disabled list.

Lowe was outstanding in September 2010 despite having a poor season until August, resulting in the Braves winning a playoff spot, one game ahead of the second place Padres at the start of the regular season. Lowe was named National League Pitcher of the Month for this.

Lowe of the Washington Nationals scored his first home run (in 425 at-bats) on August 31, 2011.

The Braves traded Lowe to the Cleveland Indians for minor league left-handed relief pitcher Chris Jones following the 2011 season. Lowe's $30 million salary for the 2012 season was paid by the Braves. Lowe pitched his first shutout in seven years in a 5-0 Tribe victory on May 15, 2012, raising his season pitching record to 6-1. Lowe was the first pitcher to do so since 2002 when he did not record a strikeout in the shutout.

Lowe was given assignment by the Indians on August 1 to make room for Corey Kluber. In 21 starts and 119 innings pitched, Lowe was 8-10 with a 5.52 ERA. On August 10, the Indians announced Lowe.

Lowe signed with the New York Yankees on August 12, 2012. He made his Yankee debut on August 13 pitching four scoreless innings of relief and his first regular season save since 2001. Lowe had a 3.04 ERA in 17 appearances and was also on the team's playoff roster. In the 2012 ALCS, the Yankees defeated the Baltimore Orioles in the 2012 ALDS but lost to the Detroit Tigers. After the 2012 season ended, Lowe became a free agent.

Lowe signed a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers on March 6, 2013. He made the team's big league roster and was with the Rangers on the first day. On May 20, 2013, he was selected for service.

Lowe seemed to have resigned on June 9, 2013, according to sports journalist Nick Cafardo. Lowe's agent, Scott Boras, told him not to approach any teams to see if they have a keen interest in Lowe, which is according to Cafardo.

Lowe officially announced his resignation on July 18, 2013.

Lowe had the opportunity to vote in the Hall of Fame in 2019, but she was disqualified for the 2020 election.

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