Thirty seven and a half million was enough for Mike Lowell.
The Red Sox third baseman cast aside bigger and better offers (the Yankees, Phillies, and Dodgers all were reportedly in the hunt at one time) to stay in Boston and accept three years.
Lowell, whose deal became official yesterday, took part in a conference call with Sox general manager Theo Epstein and spoke about his happiness at returning to the Red Sox.
"I enjoy Boston," he said. "My family enjoys Boston. Secondly, the Red Sox organization does everything it can to win a World Series - for my career, that's a big factor. Thirdly, before this contract I had financial security, so I like to believe that I'm not all about money.
"I feel like I'm more of a baseball player than a businessman. I kind of weighed where I felt comfortable and where I'd have the best chance to win a world championship. Plus, we just won and I played with a set of teammates that are unparalleled and the fan base is unbelievable.
"I really don't believe everything should be about money. I've had teammates in the past who have gone to other places. Sometimes they have second thoughts that they took more money elsewhere. I didn't think my happiness should be judged just by dollars."
Yet the temptation was there.
Media reports had Lowell linked to a four-year deal with the Yankees to play third base, which quickly shifted to first base after it became clear Alex Rodriguez was going to return. Just before the Red Sox-imposed deadline was about to expire, the Phillies, after professing that they were adamant about not going after Lowell, stormed in with a four-year offer at about $50 million. Lowell said no to that.
All the while, Lowell's agent, Sam Lev inson, was trying to squeeze another year out of Epstein, but Epstein wouldn't budge.
Even during yesterday's conference call, Levinson, attempting humor, posed as a Staten Island Advocate reporter and asked Epstein, "Would you please consider giving Mike a fourth year?"
Epstein responded, "Sam, I've heard you ask that before. We're going to hold off. We're very happy with the contract that we signed Mike to and we look forward to a great three years. We appreciate the interest."
Lowell, who was the World Series MVP and finished fifth in voting for AL MVP, didn't dismiss the Yankees, the organization that he had come up with as a young player before being dealt to the Marlins. He said he owed the Yankees a debt of gratitude for the many coaches and managers who helped him get to the big leagues. But once the Yankees wanted him to shift to first base, his interest diminished.
How tough was it to walk away from the four-year offers?
