It's sad, really — the man hit .290 with 17 home runs and 29 doubles last season, infusing the Red Sox lineup with a good amount of power while also holding down the third-base job with aplomb. Lowell has spent four years as one of the most reliable, most consistent, most classy members of the Boston roster, and he's had to do it all while wondering whether his job is in jeopardy.
Now, it appears that it certainly is. Reports surfaced Thursday morning indicating that Lowell, who turns 36 before spring training next season, is on the verge of being traded to the Texas Rangers, part of a one-for-one swap for 25-year-old rookie catcher/first baseman Max Ramirez.
For any Red Sox fan who's watched Lowell's evolution over the past four seasons — from a Marlins castoff and supposed has-been, to an All-Star third baseman, to a World Series MVP, to a $37.5 million dollar man, to an aging and injury-prone star — today is a painful day. Regardless of your opinion of Lowell as a baseball player at this point in his career, it's impossible to deny that he's been a positive influence on the ballclub and a valued member of the Red Sox family. Lowell has been a model citizen, a model teammate, a model ballplayer. With how well he's fit in here in Boston, it's hard to imagine he's only been here four years.
It's also hard to imagine him leaving. But with the Red Sox in the midst of an offseason retooling effort that might take them to the brink of being World Series favorites, it is imperative that the front office remove emotion from the equation and make an educated baseball decision. With that in mind, Lowell might be on the way out.
This winter, Theo Epstein is faced with the task of making this team younger and healthier, yet still equipped to win a championship right away. It's a difficult task, and it leaves a player like Lowell right there on the fence. Do you keep him around? It's a borderline call. When healthy, he's got guaranteed 20-home run power, but health is never a guarantee when you consider Lowell's age and the status of his oft-injured hip.
Rumors have been swirling around all offseason about a potential big bat arriving in Boston. One way or another, it's going to be a corner infielder. Either the Red Sox pick up the phone and call their old friend Jed Hoyer about acquiring Adrian Gonzalez from San Diego, or they hit the free-agent market and sign a heavy hitter instead.
The big-name free agents out there — besides Jason Bay and his potential replacements in left field — are third basemen. Adrian Beltre is the big prize, although he's coming off a down season and won't be cheap considering he's represented by Scott Boras. Troy Glaus is a backup plan, although he too is a health risk.
But no matter what, a Boston acquisition of a corner infielder would mean Lowell's job is in danger. Either they get a first baseman, and Kevin Youkilis moves to third, or they sign someone to man the hot corner, and Lowell is forced out.
In Youkilis, the Red Sox have the flexibility to broaden their horizons and examine their full list of options on the open market. Lowell doesn't offer that same flexibility.
When push comes to shove, the Red Sox are going to make the most versatile, most efficient personnel choices they can. That's why Youk is in, and Lowell, most likely, is out.
Lowell tried to masquerade as "Youk Lite," a flexible player who could do whatever the team needed. He even offered last week to play first base if it would help the Red Sox field a better team next season.
But he wasn't fooling anyone. Lowell is a third baseman, and an aging one at that. All the uncertainty that surrounded his future was for naught. Was he a third baseman? Would he play first? Would he even start? The real answer is that Lowell is better off elsewhere, aging with grace on a team that still values his services on the field.
This won't be easy. Mike Lowell was as big a part of this Red Sox team as anyone over the past four seasons, and he was a big contributor to a club that captured World Series glory just two years ago. But now, it's time for both sides to move on.
Fare thee well, Mike. Here in Boston, you'll definitely be missed.