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Mike Lowell Needs A Leverage Lesson

Mike Lowell loves playing for the Boston Red Sox whether they win the World Series or end up losing to the Cleveland Indians in Game 5 of the ALCS. It really says a lot about a modern day player who is not afraid to voice his candid opinion to the media. Most athletes who choose to go this route are covered due to their extreme outspoken personalities (see: Terrell Owens, Chad Johnson). Lowell is currently getting press for sticking by his current team and showing loyalty in the wake of becoming a free agent.

So what is so bad about that? There are definitely benefits of showing loyalty to your team (especially one that you truly want to stick with), however, by voicing those feelings to the media, Lowell is forfeiting a lot of his agent’s leverage in upcoming negotiations at the end of this season.

In response to a question about his feelings on A-Rod’s impending decision on whether or not to opt out of his current contract with the Yankees, Lowell said, “I love it here and would love to re-sign here. I’m making that clear.” [Lowell: ‘I love it here’].

Again, I think it is great that Lowell has those feelings. And in fact, he should express them to the world once he re-signs with the Red Sox (if he re-signs, actually). But while he is a free agent coming off the best statistical year of his career, he should probably keep those feelings to himself so that he may play for the team that he loves and make more money at the same time.

-Darren Heitner

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By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.

4 replies on “Mike Lowell Needs A Leverage Lesson”

I think if Lowell really wants to stay in Boston, it is in his agent’s best interests to make it happen. While Lowell is forfeiting some leverage, he does so knowingly and with the goal of re-signing with Boston. I can see how this would be worse if he was a younger player, but there is a good chance that this is his last major league contract, and I do not think he needs the money after making $9 million a year for the past few years. Remember, don’t mess with happy and if he is happy in Boston and doesn’t need the money, a statement like this may allow both sides to come together more quickly.

Sure, but he’s also said he’d be interested in the Phillies if the Sox couldn’t re-sign him. Considering Philly’s desperate need for a 3B, I don’t think he’s giving up all that much leverage.

Refreshing to hear this from Lowell. This is probably way too idealistic, but any chance the outspoken loyalty creates any (even a little) leverage in negotiations? We’re loyal to those who are loyal to us.

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