Two weeks ago, Derek Lowe thought his season might be over. He was that disgusted with the way he was pitching.
Now, he is a New York Yankees reliever.
Lowe, who started his major league career with the Seattle Mariners in 1997, signed a contract with the Yankees on Monday, two weeks after being designated for assignment by the Cleveland Indians.
“I was honest with myself,” Lowe said after arriving at Yankee Stadium. “I said, ‘I’m not going to go back if I can’t figure out what I have to change.’ ”
A self-professed career-long “tinkerer,” Lowe, 39, spent his brief time out of baseball working on the delivery of his sinkerball in Fort Myers, Fla.
When he was released by Cleveland on Friday he had been talking to Baltimore, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Boston, the team he helped to win the 2004 World Series. The Yankees jumped in without seeing him throw when ace CC Sabathia went on the disabled list Saturday with elbow trouble, and a deal was quickly agreed to.
“It happened in literally 10 minutes,” the two-time All-Star said.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi wasn’t concerned that no one in the organization saw Lowe pitch in Florida after the right-hander had an 8.80 ERA over his last 12 starts for the Indians.
“This is a guy that’s been good for a significant period of time,” Girardi said.
TWO MINOR LEAGUERS TEST POSITIVE
Two minor league players have been suspended 50 games each after positive drug tests.
Minnesota catcher Michael Quesada and free agent shortstop John Eshleman were penalized Monday by the commissioner’s office under the minor league drug program.
Quesada was on the roster of Elizabethton in the rookie level Appalachian League.
SHORT HOPS
The Dodgers placed third baseman Jerry Hairston Jr. on the 15-day disabled list with a left hip injury and recalled Elian Herrera from Triple-A Albuquerque. … The Twins sent infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka back to Triple-A Rochester. The move was made to make room for third baseman Trevor Plouffe, who returned from a rehabilitation assignment with Rochester. … The Giants activated infielder Pablo Sandoval from the disabled list. To make room, infielder Brett Pill was optioned to Triple-A Fresno. … The Cubs recalled right-handed reliever Michael Bowden and optioned left-hander Brooks Raley to Triple-A Iowa. The team also moved third baseman Ian Stewart to the 60-day disabled list to make room on the 40-man roster. … White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko has cleared a battery of post-concussion tests and will resume physical activity today. … The Braves are moving to a six-man rotation for two weeks. Manager Fredi Gonzalez says he’ll pick the best five starters at the end of August. … The Orioles acquired left-handed pitcher J.C. Romero from the Indians for minor league infielder Carlos Rojas. … Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth was scratched from the starting lineup on Monday with an ankle injury.
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