IT'S RED SOX/YANKS OFF THE FIELD

It appears the bidding on Mike Lowell has come down to two teams. The Red Sox and Yankees have laid down their offers. Now it appears the ball is squarely in Lowell’s court. Does he return to Boston where he is being hailed as a hero or travel south to New York where the Yankees apparently are trying their best to take a chunk out of the World Series Champions? There is still a chance a third team could come into the bidding process, but this is beginning to look like yet another saga between two old rivals.

From the time the Red Sox clinched this past season’s title Boston fans immediately began to voice their opinion that Lowell should be retained. Theo Epstein and his front office mates have offered Lowell a three year deal believed to be in the area of $36 - $40 million. The Yankees have jumped into the fold with a four year offer believed to be in the area of $50 - $55 million. However, that is a standing offer for Lowell to switch across the diamond to play first base. That suggests the Yankees are trying to deplete the WS Champions or drive the Red Sox over their comfort zone with a Lowell contract.

All through this process Lowell has maintained he wants a four year contract. His agents have maintained they could land a four year deal on the open market. It appears they now have that offer. However, the Red Sox have not budged off of three years. Their player evaluators have clearly assigned a value to Lowell and a fourth year obviously has been deemed an impasse in the negotiations. What will Lowell decide?