!!!!!!!!! SOX MAKE OFFER TO MIKE LOWELL!!!!!

FROM ROTOWORLD.COM

MIKE LOWELL
The Red Sox have a three-year offer out to Mike Lowell that they may not be
willing to budge off of, according to the Boston Globe.

Lowell will be able to get four or maybe even five years elsewhere, something
the Red Sox must know. If they're sticking to three years, it better include a very good salary ($16 million per year or so). While Lowell wants to play in Boston, he can only leave so much money on the table.

According to the Boston Herald, the Red Sox have offered Mike Lowell a three-year
contract worth between $12 million and $15 million per season.

Boston is holding strong to their plan to avoid a fourth year, which Lowell
could likely get elsewhere, but $15 million per season might make him consider the three-year deal. The newspaper also reports that the Red Sox are "unlikely" to trade for Miguel Cabrera and could potentially replace Mike Lowell by acquiring a first baseman and sliding new Gold Glover Kevin Youkilis back across the diamond.

ERIC GAGNE
Agent Scott Boras said Eric Gagne would pursue a closer's role as a free
agent this winter. The Red Sox would surely like to see Gagne sign elsewhere quickly in order to guarantee that they'll get a draft pick. If he's still on the market this month, they'd have to risk offering him arbitration in order to land the supplemental first-round selection. After his rough second half, Gagne may be able to make more in arbitration than he would elsewhere.

MATT CLEMENT
Asked Wednesday about potentially re-signing Matt Clement, general manager
Theo Epstein said that he "probably has better options elsewhere."
Clement was a major bust in Boston, posting a 5.19 ERA in 256 1/3 innings after signing a three-year deal, but has reportedly drawn interest from the Padres and Royals now that he's available cheaply as a reclamation project.