According to The Boston Globe, a physical is the only thing standing in the way of an agreement that will send Lowell to Texas in exchange for catcher Max Ramirez. And knowing Lowell's well-documented hip problems over the past two years, passing a physical may not be an easy task. Also, as WEEI's Rob Bradford suggests, the Red Sox want to be sure that Ramirez's wrists are healthy before the deal goes through.
A baseball source told the Globe's Tony Massarotti that a money issue has been resolved, and that the Red Sox have agreed to pay "some of" the $12 million Lowell is owed in 2010. "Some of" equates to $9 million, according to WEEI.
Another hold-up in the deal, which has been brewing since Wednesday night, is that it requires approval from commissioner Bud Selig. Because owner Tom Hicks is trying to sell the team, which is anything but financially secure, every deal they make is being heavily scrutinized by the league. That's a big part of the reason that Boston will need to pick up a big chunk of Lowell's salary if the deal goes through.
