Welcome back, Jed

[hostros7]

Signed on a 3-yr deal per MLB at bat.

[hostros7]

@EvanDrellich: Source: $23 million over three years for Jed Lowrie, with a team option that could bring it to $28 million.

[Reuben]

Cool. That seems like a very reasonable (relatively speaking) deal. Will be interesting to see how much time he gets at SS vs. 3B this year. Sort of sets up a battle for playing time between Marwin and Matty D.

[roadrunner]

Nice deal.

[subnuclear]

Cool. That seems like a very reasonable (relatively speaking) deal. Will be interesting to see how much time he gets at SS vs. 3B this year. Sort of sets up a battle for playing time between Marwin and Matty D.

About to type the same thing.

Now on to Scherzer!

[jbm]

Don't really get this one.  Tops out on my excitement scale about on par with acquiring Hank Conger.  

[Nate Colbert]

Will be interesting to see how much time he gets at SS vs. 3B this year.

@brianmctaggart  15m
Astros manager A.J. Hinch said Lowrie will play SS.

[pots]

Cool.  Reasonably priced.  Not the 10 per we were led to believe.  Perhaps he may have even given a hometown discount.  And a 5 million dollar club option for a 4th.  Very nice.  Wonder if the entire contract is front loaded?

ETA
Actually, it's likely 7 per with a 2 million buyout.  Still very reasonable

[Navin R Johnson]

I hope he bunts in his first AB.

[Nate Colbert]

Cool.  Reasonably priced.  Not the 10 per we were led to believe.  Perhaps he may have even given a hometown discount.  And a 5 million dollar club option for a 4th.  Very nice.  Wonder if the entire contract is front loaded?

Yes, per Drellich tweet:

Source: Lowrie salary breakdown is $8 million in ’15, $7.5 in ’16, $6.5 in ’17 and $6 mil or $1 mil buyout in ’18.

[astrosfan76]

I don't think it's a coincidence that he went shortly after Headley, who said he left the highest offer on the table. I'm okay with the deal; I'm not excited, but I don't hate it. I think it's the length of the deal more than anything that I wish they could decrease. The versatility is nice and I think he'll be a good influence in the clubhouse, I just see him as a short-term upgrade at SS and insurance policy at 3B.

[Nate Colbert]

Based on salary numbers at B-Ref and adding in Lowrie's $8MM salary for 2015, Astros are currently at $66.5MM or thereabouts in payroll for next year.

[JimR]

I liked him and am glad he is back.

[Fynn]

I too am happy Jed is back-adds some stability to the infield.

[roadrunner]

I think it's the length of the deal more than anything that I wish they could decrease.

Every Astros FA signing this offseason has been 3 years or less.  That's about as short-term as you can get if you want anything of value (which they got).

[Fredia]

the return of jed I like

[Reuben]

the return of jed I like

I see what you did there, and it was pretty damn clever.

[NeilT]

I see what you did there, and it was pretty damn clever.

I just thought it was a typo.

[Mr. Happy]

I just thought it was a typo.

Old blind squirrel...

[MusicMan]

Old blind squirrel...

Gets deep fried in Zwolle.

[Nate Colbert]

At press conference to introduce Lowrie currently going on, Luhnow asked about 3B position. Mentioned Dominguez would be given "every opportunity to win job" but also said Marwin could end up there with a good spring. Didn't rule out further moves there.

Also:

@OrtizKicks  43m
"Right now our 5th spot is between Foltynewicz, Peacock, Wojo, Alex White," Luhnow said. He says they are monitoring starter market.

[Fredia]

squirrel mulligan is devine