Person familiar with the situation: Red Sox 3B Lowell to have thumb surgery, squashing trade

AP source: Red Sox 3B Lowell to have thumb surgery

BOSTON — Mike Lowell will have surgery to repair a ligament in his right thumb and need six to eight weeks to recover, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The diagnosis negates — or at least postpones indefinitely — a trade that would have sent the 2007 World Series MVP to the Texas Rangers.

Lowell plans to have the operation after Christmas, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity Saturday night because the Red Sox had not made an announcement.

Lowell saw a hand specialist Friday in Arizona and then Rangers team physician Dr. Keith Meister on Saturday. The Rangers declined to comment specifically on Lowell or the potential trade that would have sent catcher Max Ramirez to Boston.

Lowell is owed $12 million in 2010, the final season of a $37.5 million, three-year contract, and the Red Sox had agreed to pay as much as $9 million of it.

“I expect we’ll still add to the club in a few spots,” Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. “We’ve been in regular contact with guys we’re interested in and I like our options. Fortunately for us, the market is relatively strong in the areas we’re looking at.”

Lowell had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right hip after the 2008 season and batted .290 with 17 homers and 75 RBIs this year. A four-time All-Star, he is a .280 career hitter with 218 homers and 926 RBIs in 11-plus major league seasons.

The Red Sox acquired him as a throw-in with Josh Beckett in a 2005 deal that sent Hanley Ramirez to the Florida Marlins. In the ‘07 Series, just before he was to become a free agent, Lowell batted .400 with a homer and three doubles to help the Red Sox sweep the Colorado Rockies for their second title in four seasons.

AP Sports Writers Jaime Aron in Arlington, Texas, and Mike Fitzpatrick in New York contributed to this report.