Mike Lowell signed with the Red Sox. It’s a 3-year/$37.5M deal.

Reports are the Phillies had a conference call with Lowell last night, and offered 4 years/$50M. In fact, there was an hour, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney, when the deal seemed done.

Same price, one more year, no go. Does it mean Lowell didn’t want to play in Philly, or that Lowell really wanted to go back to Boston? I’d say the latter — Lowell wanted to go back, and merely was hoping Boston would match the Phils’ money. Three or four years, Lowell gets to play long-term the place he liked most.

For the Phils, what’s next?

Yes, the offer shows the Phils were willing to spend big money on what was perceived to be a low priority. Also, it shows — as Rotoworld put it — the Phils “have been lying to pretty much everyone.” Which is great, if true — the Phils may very well be dedicated to winning, despite the critics and us bloggers who only get the rumor mill. Let them work the lines. It doesn’t mean, however, that they’re going to fill third base with something other than Helms/Dobbs/Bruntlett. The price has to be right.

Free agent third basemen:
- Corey Koskie
- Mike Lamb
- Pedro Feliz
- Tadahito Iguchi?
- Marcus Giles?

Possible trade bait:
- Joe Crede
- Hank Blalock
- Miguel Tejada

Are any of these options any better than the perceived Helms/Dobbs/Bruntlett platoon? Maybe, but for the money, probably not. Maybe Tejada — if the Phils can swing a deal that doesn’t involve Carlos Carrasco/Joe Savery/Josh Outman/Shane Victorino — but is that likely? I’ll take Koskie on a 1Y/$2M flier; honestly, that’s about it. It may be better to hold onto third base, and try to upgrade right field. Now.