The general manager meetings concluded today in Orlando, and Theo Epstein and the other GMs have departed town and headed home. Unfortunately, the meetings concluded without a deal for Mike Lowell in place (which was not too surprising, considering this report- but there are positive signs that negotiations are progressing (and the Sox still have exclusive rights to speak dollars and cents with Lowell through November 12th).

The Sox extended a three-year guaranteed offer to Lowell before they departed Orlando- an offer described by a club source as "really strong". Reportedly, the Sox believe that the offer made to Lowell "is competitive enough that if Lowell truly wants to re-sign with the Sox -- which the club believes and which the club wants to happen -- then their three-year offer is significant enough to make him want to stay." The market, however, may offer Lowell a four-year contract- one nameless National League GM told Nick Cafardo, "He'd get four years on the open market. No question." But the word on the GMs' street also apparently is that Lowell will most likely return to the Red Sox: the Yankees manager Joe Girardi and GM Brian Cashman both have reportedly thrown in the towel on the possibility of bringing Lowell to New York.

"I personally believe the player's preference would be to stay in Boston," Cashman said. "I believe that's probably accurate."

re-sign this man. NOW.

And despite what some folks are still talking about, Michael Silverman reports that if Lowell does not sign on the dotted line, the Sox are NOT likely to try and sign Miguel Cabrera. In that case, the Sox are exploring three alternatives: (1) a "non-blockbuster" trade for a low profile 3B, (2) move Kevin Youkilis to 3B, and trade for a low-profile 1B, or (3) fill the 3B hole internally, possibly utilizing new 1B Chris Carter and SS prospect Jed Lowrie to patch the void left by Lowell.

In Scott Boras news, Theo Epstein took a meeting with the notorious superagent yesterday to run through the list of Boras clients (which includes Alex Cora, J.D. Drew, Eric Gagne, Devern Hansack, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Julian Tavarez and Jason Varitek). Theo has been careful to classify this meeting as a routine one, not one meant to discuss A-Rod-- though Theo reportedly had to listen to Boras's pitch extolling the value of A-Rod (complete with charts and graphs). One Boras client who most certainly will not be returning to the Sox is Eric Gagne; Theo said, "He's not a great fit for our bullpen right now", and Boras indicated Gagne is pursuing a closer's role... meaning he's almost assuredly long gone from the Fens.

don't let the door hit you where the good lord split you

Brendan Donnelly will reportedly be invited back to the Sox. Donnelly had Tommy John surgery in August, and likely won't be available to pitch until late in the season next year. Theo said, "He might be ready to pitch toward the end of next year; we're talking to him about working something out so he can come back next year."

However Matt Clement's days in Boston are apparently over. All sources say there are no talks going on between the Sox and Clement- and Theo remarked yesterday that, "given the Sox' pitching depth, that Clement 'probably has better options elsewhere'." Clement is garnering interest from the Royals and Padres.

trade bait

Much speculation still surrounds Coco Crisp- including interest from the Twins and the Rangers. The Twins would likely be looking for a Lester/Buchholz and Crisp trade for Johan Santana- but as I mentioned before, Theo has said the Sox are not looking on the free agent market for more starting pitching. The Rangers, on the other hand, have two viable catchers in Gerald Laird and Jarrod Saltalamacchia that could help the Sox out. Of course I'd prefer Saltalamacchia... for obvious reasons.

Final note: longtime baseball veteran Royce Clayton filed for free agency yesterday-- the only ballplayer to do so. This means twelve Red Sox were on the free agent market this offseason- and three of those (Wakefield, Tavarez, Schilling) have re-inked with the Sox.