LOWELL DOESN’T GET FOUR MORE YEARS; SIGNS WITH SOX: With A-Rod having cornered the Yankees, the BOSTON GLOBE reports today that Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell “has agreed in principle to the framework of a three-year deal to return to the Red Sox.“

More: “Lowell, 33, tested the free-agent waters, and may have received at least one four-year offer from another undisclosed team, but in the end the Sox third baseman elected to stay where he was most comfortable. Sources indicate that the three year deal is worth in the $36-$38 million range.“Translation: A-Rod went back to the Yanks, so Lowell didn’t have leverage to get a fourth year with a contender, so he settled for three years with the Sox. Lowell was obviously the Yankees’ first choice for third base if Rodriguez hadn’t re-upped.

Now onto the next Boston-New York battle for a four-year deal.