Red Sox-Rangers Deal is Dead, but Mike Lowell is Still Probably Done in Boston

In 2007, his second year with the Boston Red Sox, third baseman Mike Lowell had an extraordinary year, one nobody saw coming. Always satisfactory on offense, but superb on defense, the 32-year old clubbed 21 homers, batted .324, socked 191 hits, and drove in 120 runs in the heart of a dangerous order.

That year, he was also the Most Valuable Player of the World Series. He was a throw-in in the trade that also sent ace Josh Beckett to Boston, and a darn good one.

Now, he is no longer known as the World Series MVP and the genius throw-in. Instead, he is known as a expensive contract, an aged, injury-plagued 35-year old whose offense and defense has greatly diminished.

The Red Sox had a deal in place to send Lowell to the Texas Rangers in exchange for catcher Max Ramirez. It appeared the swap would be completed when the two passed their physicals, but both are currently injured, so this phase wasn’t even reached.

Lowell, for the past few years now, has been hampered by a bad hip, which has limited his mobility defensively and hurt his offensive game. Ramirez spent a majority of this past season nursing a pair of bad wrists, but, despite checking his records and expressing concern, the Red Sox seemed willing to take him if it meant shedding Lowell and his salary.

Boston wanted to be rid of Lowell so bad that they offered to pay $9 million of his $12 million salary. They inquired about San Diego Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez at the Winter Meetings, with the idea that current first baseman Kevin Youkilis would move to third base, disregarding Lowell altogether. An accomplished hitter, Lowell was now dead weight.

The Red Sox thought they would be able to get Texas to take him, but the deal fell through. It turned out the hip wasn’t the only thing bothering him. After seeing a hand specialist in Arizona, it became public knowledge that Lowell would have to undergo thumb surgery to repair a torn radial collateral ligament in his right thumb.

The deal was announced dead. As of now, Lowell is still a member of the team, to management’s chagrin.

But don’t expect him to remain with the Red Sox. They made it clear they didn’t want him. Now, for the time being, they are stuck with him. The organization doesn’t want him as their third baseman, and he shouldn’t want to man the hot corner for them next year.

For both parties to be happy, Lowell would have to pass a physical. Thumb surgery requires six to eight weeks of recovering. He won’t be that appealing, given how important hands are in baseball, which means Boston will probably be forced to showcase him in Spring Training.

Because it will be far too late to sign a replacement, It’s a good thing they have one. Youkilis can move to third, and Casey Kotchman can man first this season. Kotchman can put up Lowell-esque numbers: 20-plus homers, .280-300 batting average, and 70-80 RBI.

Youkilis is a natural third baseman, though his play at first wouldn’t suggest that, and Kotchman is a stellar defensive player, so Boston will upgrade defensively. Still, Lowell’s presence will be missed.

The Red Sox have become defensive-oriented. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but they will be lacking offensively. Mike Cameron , who will be replacing Jason Bay, a 35-plus homer, 100-plus RBI player, may hit 20 homers, and may drive in 80 runs.

Marco Scutaro will be an upgrade offensively and defensively over Alex Gonzalez, but designated hitter David Ortiz may continue to decline, Kotchman may not hit for much power, and J.D. Drew will miss more games than homers hit.

They have defense and pitching, and enough stalwarts on offense—Youkilis, catcher Victor Martinez , center-fielder Jacoby Ellsbury , and second baseman Dustin Pedroia —to succeed, but the lack of power is certainly worrisome.

They will have perhaps the best pitching rotation in baseball. Their defense will be excellent across the board. But though they will win upwards of 90 games this season, their handling of the charismatic Lowell creates a dark, disrespectful cloud over the organization, and considerably hinders my view of the Boston Red Sox.

If I were him, I would do everything in my power to rehab quickly, pass a physical, and get as far away as possible from the likes of General Manager Theo Epstein and the other conceited higher-ups.