When Red Sox position players arrive at Spring Training in a couple of months, it appears as if Mike Lowell will be present, after all.
The tentative trade of Lowell to the Rangers is off because of a physical in Texas that revealed that the 34-year-old third baseman will require surgery on his right thumb, sources told MLB.com.
Lowell, who will return to the Red Sox, needs radial collateral ligament surgery that will require 6-8 weeks to recover from. Sources said Lowell is scheduled to have the procedure done shortly after Christmas, and he should be ready to return to action by the first or second week of Spring Training.
Lowell's agent, Seth Levinson, could not be reached for comment on Saturday night.
The deal, which was agreed upon during the Winter Meetings in Indianapolis but was pending the passing of a physical, was to send Lowell to the Rangers in exchange for catching prospect Max Ramirez. In turn, Boston would also pay $9 million of Lowell's $12 million salary for next season.
But that will no longer be the case, and his role in Boston moving forward is in question.
Barring any moves, the Red Sox were expected to go with Casey Kotchman at first base for next season, with Kevin Youkilis switching to third. That can still happen, but if Lowell proves he's healthy, the Red Sox would also have two other options -- they can rekindle trade talks for Lowell, perhaps with the Rangers again, or they can have Lowell play third base.
In his fourth season in Boston in 2009, Lowell batted .290 with 17 homers and 75 RBIs in 119 games.
Lowell had surgery on his hip last offseason, and the right thumb was a problem for him during the end of '09. He also strained ligaments in his left thumb in '08, which prompted him to go on the disabled list.
The Rangers were reportedly satisfied with the condition of Lowell's hip, and an examination of Ramirez's wrists by Boston also didn't seem to be an obstacle. The only question was Lowell's thumb, and after examinations on Saturday, the Rangers decided those questions were strong enough for them to back out of the deal.
In Texas, the 12-year veteran was expected to serve as a designated hitter and play first base, while also spelling Michael Young at the hot corner.
The Red Sox were reportedly interested in signing third baseman Adrian Beltre, and rumors swirled recently about an interest in trading for Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. Having Lowell on the active roster -- and not saving $3 million on his contract -- may affect those moves.
The Rangers, meanwhile, are still looking for a right-handed bat and have interest in Vladimir Guerrero and Jermaine Dye.
"I expect we'll still add to the club in a few spots," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. "We've been in regular contact with guys we're interested in and I like our options. Fortunately for us, the market is relatively strong in the areas we're looking at."
Lowell was examined by a hand specialist in Arizona on Friday, then the Rangers' medical staff on Saturday in Arlington. The Miami native injured his right thumb during the final week of this past season. Lowell sat out the final weekend of the season, then played in the three-game American League Division Series, notching two singles in 10 at-bats while the Red Sox were swept by the Angels.
For his 12-year career, Lowell -- a four-time All-Star and Gold Glove Award winner in '05 -- sports a .280 batting average with 218 home runs. He also owns two World Series rings, with the Marlins in '03 and the Red Sox in '07.
In Ramirez, the Red Sox would've received a right-handed-hitting catcher who was originally signed by the Braves as an undrafted free agent in '02. The 25-year-old played in 76 games for the Rangers' Triple-A affiliate last season, batting .234 with five homers and 43 RBIs while battling wrist problems.
Ramirez, who appeared in 17 games for the Rangers in '08, has a career .300 batting average with 69 home runs in six seasons in the Minors. He was possibly going to move to first base or DH.
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