Rumor: Red Sox Keeping Lowell

The Red Sox have said all along that their top priority was keeping free agent third basemen Mike Lowell, and now, according to ESPN.com they are very close to doing so. The deal is reportedly for three years and worth $37.5 million. Apparently other clubs (namely the Dodgers and the Phillies) were offering a 4th year but Lowell preferred to stay in Boston, even if it meant a shorter contract. It must be nice to have to "settle" for more than $12 million a year, especially when you consider the the Red Sox got Lowell as essentially a throw away in the deal for Josh Beckett. It would also be interesting to see if the Yankees' rumored pursuit of Lowell to play first base increased the price the BoSox were willing to pay.