The Red Sox had a trade in place that would have sent Mike Lowell and $9 million bucks to the Rangers for catcher Max Ramirez but the trade fell through due to Lowell’s need for thumb surgery to repair ligament damage in his right thumb. He will have surgery to repair his thumb shortly after Christmas and he should be out six to eight weeks causing him to maybe miss the start of spring training. The Red Sox are likely stuck with Lowell in 2010 despite really wanting to move him so that they could replace him with a better player. Lowell played in 119 games for the Red Sox last season and he was 129 for 445 (.290 avg, .811 OPS) with 54 runs scored, 17 homers and 75 RBIs. Lowell has now played four years with the Red Sox appearing in 539 games in which he is 598 for 2,026 (.295 avg, .829 OPS) with 270 runs scored, 75 homers, 348 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. It will be interesting to see what kind of attitude Lowell comes to spring training with knowing that the Red Sox don’t really want him anymore.

The Red Sox will likely be without Tim Wakefield for the entire playoffs due to a herniated disc. Wakefield started 21 games for the Red Sox this season and he was 11-5 with a 4.58 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. But the Red Sox weren’t going to use him in the starting rotation in the playoffs anyway. It’s not like Wakefield has been Mr. Clutch in his post season career anyhow. In 18 games (11 starts) in his post season career, Wakefield is 5-7 with a 6.75 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP.

The Red Sox have placed backup outfielder Rocco Baldelli on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring. Baldelli has played in 5 games for the Red Sox this season and he is 3 for 13 (.231 avg, .517 OPS) with 2 runs scored and 1 RBI. The Red Sox have recalled 1B Jeff Bailey to replace Baldelli on the roster. In his first game with the Red Sox this season he was 1 for 2 with 2 runs scored, 1 homer and 3 RBIs. Bailey has also played in 12 games in AAA-ball so far this season and he was 12 for 47 (.255 avg, .918 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 4 homers and 7 RBIs. The Red Sox will miss Baldelli especially with J.D. Drew going down to injury at any time.

The Red Sox have placed righty starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka on the 15-day disabled list due to a case of arm fatigue. The fatigue is no doubt related to the stupid World Baseball Classic which accelarates pitch counts before pitching arms are ready. Matsuzaka has started 2 games for the Red Sox so far this season and he is 0-1 with a 12.79 ERA and a 3.00 WHIP. Dice-K has allowed a stunning 14 hits and three homers in only 6.1 innings this season while walking 5 batters. The Red Sox will replace Matsuzaka in the starting rotation with either Clay Buchholz or Justin Masterson. Masterson has pitched in 4 games (0 starts) for the Red Sox so far this season and he is 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. He has whiffed 7 batters while only walking 1 in 6 innings so far this season for the Red Sox. Clay Buchholz pitched well this spring for the Red Sox. He has started 1 game in AAA-ball this year and he is 0-0 with a 2.45 ERA and a 1.91 WHIP. Buchholz probably has the higher upside as a starting pitcher but the Red Sox will likely go with Masterson.

The Red Sox have placed 25-year old switch hitting shortstop Jed Lowrie on the 15-day disabled list with a sore left wrist. Lowrie played in 5 games this season for the Red Sox going only 1 of 18 (.056 avg, .206 OPS) with 0 runs scored or RBIs. Lowrie will be replace in the short term by veteran infielder Nick Green. The 30-year old righty swinging Green has played in 5 games for the Red Sox this season and he is 3 for 11 (.273 avg, .658 OPS) with 2 runs scored and 1 RBI. But, Green is not a natural shortstop so he will likely be replaced late in games by rookie Gil Velazquez who has played in 2 games for the Red Sox this season and he is 0 for 2 (.000 avg). Velazquez has also played in 4 games in AAA this season and he is 4 for 18 (.222 avg, .485 OPS) with 1 run scored. Julio Lugo should be able to return next week for the Red Sox and he will likely take back over as the starting shortstop.