[vincesanity82]

The odds of Mike Lowell returning to the Red Sox grew dimmer last night, with the third baseman hitting the free agent market after no new deal was reached by the midnight deadline. That means Lowell can now entertain concrete offers from the Phillies, Yankees, Angels or Dodgers for more dollars and more years than what the Sox offered. Lowell's reluctance to sign now is believed to be rooted, at least in part, in his ability to get a better deal elsewhere. As much as Lowell and the Sox are members of a mutual admiration society (they still were talking yesterday), neither was willing to make the concessions necessary last night to seal a new deal that would bring back the club's 2007 RBI leader and World Series MVP. That could change once Lowell fields offers, but more often than not, once teams cannot sign their own free agents within the 15 days of exclusive rights after the World Series, the player winds up signing elsewhere. The Yankees, for one, are ready to pounce. "He's a player we're going to certainly talk to," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told Newsday yesterday. -- Boston Herald

Lowell hits open market - BostonHerald.com

[Lefty Noob]

This could wind up being a colossal mistake for Boston.

[LSC9901]

In this day and age in sports there is no longer any reason to remain loyal to a team. It's all about the bottom line and that is money. Lowell has all the credentials to go anywhere. If you have that choice and someone is willing to top the next team in dollars and contract length ... where will you go. Realistically the ball is still round and third base is still 90 feet from home plate ... at every stadium.

[legend]

Lowell hit .373 at Fenway- .276 on the road. Unless he gets another offer that absolutely blows away Boston's, he should stay put.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by legend

Lowell hit .373 at Fenway- .276 on the road. Unless he gets another offer that absolutely blows away Boston's, he should stay put.

I guess that's where the Yankees come into play. They could offer him 1/3 of what A-Rod's making and I believe it'd be a huge raise for him, right?

[ThePundit]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

This could wind up being a colossal mistake for Boston.

And even a worse mistake for the Yankees to sign him. Didn't they learn anything from overpaying Johnny Damon?

I'd much rather them take a chance on Joe Crede. The upside is he'll turn into Scott Broscious.