Tags with the scoop on something non-relief related.
I'm hearing Lowrie wants three years, so we'll have to see how market plays out for him. Lives in Houston in offseason.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) December 10, 2014
Doesn't sound like anything is close here. A three-year deal sounds about right for Lowrie, who was projected to get a three-year, $30 million deal by the crowdsourcing at FanGraphs and two-year, $22 million by Dave Cameron.
But, that would mean the Astros go over their projected salary ceiling for 2015. As it stands right now, the Astros have $65 million set up for the 40-man roster in 2015, after the Neshek and Gregerson signings.
Adding Lowrie at $10 million per season blows the projected $70 million budget by $5 million and doesn't give Houston any room to add more players on lower-cost deals.
JIm Crane did say on Tuesday that the Astros could go over that for the right player. There's also a chance that payroll figure comes down once Houston clears up its catching situation.
But, for now, it appears the Lowrie market will wait a bit. Unless his price comes down, I don't expect the Astros to make a play for him.