Boston Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell(notes) is apparently up on the trading block in an off-season that is crowded with third sackers, according to the FOXSports.

The word is that the Red Sox will pay half of the 35-year-old Lowell's $12 million salary next season to anybody who will take him.

Lowell hasn't played more than 120 games in the last two years so if anybody takes him, they better have a decent backup.

If the Sox can get Adrian Gonzalez(notes) from the San Diego Padres, he'll be playing first and Kevin Youkilis(notes) will be moved to third. Otherwise, Boston will be bidding for the likes of Adrian Beltre(notes), Placido Polanco(notes), Chone Figgins(notes), and a bunch of others, though Beltre is believed to be the one of most interest to the Sox.

Source: FOXSports

Rumor has it that the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, San Diego Padres, and Chicago White Sox have had "preliminary discussions" about a deal that would involve Adrian Gonzalez(notes), Paul Konerko(notes), and prospects from the Sox and the Angels, according to SoxNet.

Supposedly, the White Sox would send Konerko and prospects to San Diego for Adrian Gonzalez. Then San Diego would trade Konerko to Anaheim and give San Diego more prospects.

The 27-year-old left-handed batter Gonzalez is coveted by more than a few teams (40 homers, 99 RBIs, and a .407 on-base percentage will do that for you) so the Padres would have to be receiving some stellar prospects in the deal.

Source: SoxNet