Twins After Mike Lowell?

At this time last year, Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell had surprised most people by batting .310/.357/.515.  He slumped a bit to .267/.327/.448 thereafter, but it was a major bonus when the unwanted throw-in to the Josh Beckett trade became an asset.  That year, he was actually the better part of the deal.

The Padres had about three different Lowell trade rumors floating about last year.  What began as a legitimate, sensible rumor somehow became Lowell for Jake Peavy.  I still don’t know how that one picked up steam.  The Twins were mentioned, though I don’t know if it ever became an official rumor.

Today, La Velle Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune writes that Lowell might be available again this year and could be a fit for the Twins if Boston eats some of his $9MM salary.  Neal says the Sox could pull a blockbuster, acquiring Mark Teixeira, moving Kevin Youkilis to third, and trading Lowell.  Sure, it’s a long shot, but we’re all about speculation here at MLBTR.  The guy that keeps coming to mind as a very useful possibly available Twin is Scott Baker.  I still refuse to believe that his repertoire and command can’t work in a fifth or even fourth starter role in the bigs.

Ken Rosenthal recently discussed clubs that could pursue Lowell as a free agent after this season: the Yankees, Dodgers, Giants, Angels, Phillies, and Astros.  Any of those teams aside from the Yanks could look to make that move a few months early via trade.