Red Sox, Mike Lowell Agree to 3-Year Deal

Lowell is believed to have been looking for a four-year deal and there are rumors that the Yankees offered him four years to play first base, but it would appear that the reigning World Series Most Valuable Player will be staying put with the Red Sox and playing first base, even with a three-year agreement. The Philadelphia Phillies are also believed to have offered him a four-year deal.

In 2005, the Red Sox acquired Josh Beckett and Lowell from the Florida Marlins for two highly regarded prospects, after the Texas Rangers reportedly "went in another direction." It was clear at the time that the Sox organization was more interested in adding Beckett than they were in adding Lowell, but as the price of adding the pitcher, they accepted the third baseman.

In a November, 2005 article on Boston.com, Lowell's $9 Million yearly salary was called "cumbersome," and his acquisition was described as a prerequisite to getting Beckett. However, a World Series MVP and a .400 batting average during the World Series, not to mention his 120 RBI during the 2007 season, have turned that $9 Million salary into a relative bargain.

For his part, Boston pitcher Curt Schilling has made clear from the start his preference would be to see Lowell re-sign with Boston and titled a blog entry "SWEET!" wherein he reports members of the team to be ecstatic. Manny Ramirez and Jason Varitek are also known to be supporters of returning Lowell.

Lowell began his career in the Yankees minor league system, and was traded to the Marlins in 1999.

At the 1998 trading deadline, The Seattle Mariners demanded Hideki Irabu and Mike Lowell in a deal that would have brought Randy Johnson to the Yankees, but the Yankees balked and Johnson was traded to Houston. Instead, the next February he was traded for the immortal Ed Yarnall, Mark Johnson, and Todd Noel. Yarnall appeared in a total of 7 games for the Yankees; Johnson was a rule 5 pick up by the Tigers from the Yankees and who pitched in 9 games in his big league career; Noel was outrighted to Columbus. In 1999, Irabu went 11-7 in New York, but was traded to the Montreal Expos for Ted Lilly and Jake Westbrook.

The Red Sox have now signed their two big name free agents in Schilling and Lowell.

SOURCES:

"Red Sox set to acquire Beckett, Lowell," MLB.com

"Sox agree on trade for Beckett," Boston.com

"Sweet," 38pitches.com

"Lowell Stays," boston.com

"BASEBALL; Cashman Catches Breath After Not Making Deal." New York Times

"BASEBALL; A Top Yankee Prospect Is Traded for Pitching," New York Times