What had been a very complicated road to separation was punctuated (for now) with a very simple early-evening text message. Mike Lowell wrote: "No deal. Having surgery in a week."

That was it. A trade that had been agreed upon in principle 11 days before had found its conclusion, albeit one that left plenty more questions. Lowell was staying with the Red Sox, along with the entirety of the $12 million left on his contract for 2010, and Texas minor league catcher/first baseman Max Ramirez was remaining with the Rangers.

Early Saturday evening Lowell got word that the tests he had been put through by a hand specialist in Arizona, Friday, and subsequently in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, helped doctors come to the conclusion that the 35-year-old would need surgery on a torn radial collateral ligament in his right thumb.

The prognosis was that Lowell would undergo surgery shortly after Christmas and then need 6-8 weeks before returning to full baseball activities.

He had injured the thumb in batting practice prior to the first game of the season's final series of the regular season. The initial diagnosis, which remained consistent heading into the offseason, was that it was bruised or simply jammed. Lowell played with the injury throughout the Red Sox' three playoff games, going 2-for-10 with a walk while dealing with the heavily taped thumb.

As Lowell ventured into the offseason his focus was on strengthening his surgically-repaired hip, which he had been able to do only sporadically throughout the '09 season. But there was also the concern of where he fit in regards to the Red Sox' plans for '10. With the addition of catcher/first baseman Victor Martinez and first baseman Casey Kotchman, Lowell found himself having to play the role of part-time player than at any other time previously in his Sox' career.

It was a trend that the Red Sox' didn't appear prepared to change, with the team not necessarily planning on making Lowell its lock-solid everyday third baseman. And with that reality surfaced, Lowell (still prioritizing being a starter with the Sox) was not averse to relocating to a team where he would play on a more regular basis if the commitment wasn't going to be there from Boston.

That place was going to be Texas. But not anymore. The Rangers figure to go out and sign someone such as Jermaine Dye, Jim Thome or Vladimir Guerrero to fill the spot Lowell was going to occupy.

What happens now is Lowell has surgery and begins a rehab process that will continue right up until the first day of spring training. He had been optimistic about increased mobility thanks to an offseason of strengthening his hip, but now has to deal with not being able to hit the ground running in regards to swinging a bat or throwing a ball.

It remains to be seen how the Red Sox approach the commitment to Lowell's playing time in spring training. With the team already eyeing more of a presence by Kotchman at first, along with the integration of Martinez at the position, it wouldn't appear as though the starting third base job is going to be reserved for Lowell while he eases his way back into action.

If Lowell returns to action and shows a newfound mobility and the kind of offensive production exhibited for much of 2009, it will be interesting to see if the Red Sox change their course and decide his value is perhaps more than they anticipated, or if it simply translates into revitalized trade value.

Lowell has handled trade rumors since coming to Boston, whether it be in a deal for Todd Helton, or to make way for the potential acquisition of Mark Teixeira. Approaching it the proper way in Fort Myers -- both in the clubhouse and with the media -- doesn't figure to be a problem. But to say this doesn't complicate things for Lowell and the Red Sox after it appeared as though both sides were finding their peace of mind just isn't accurate. At least some unavoidable drama awaits on the horizon.

But when it's said and done, two questions loom: What happens if Lowell gets the opportunity he wanted all along -- to prove to the Red Sox that his hip will have improved enough for him to be their everyday third baseman? Or maybe the Sox come out of the gate and make it clear that Kotchman is their guy and any value Lowell exhibits is simply a means to an end in regard to finding him another home.

Spring training just got a lot more intriguing.