Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported last night that the Yankees had discussions before the trade deadline about acquiring Mike Lowell.

The deal would have been a three-team trade involving the Rangers, and would have given the Yankees a backup to Alex Rodriguez at third base and another veteran bat on the bench.

Watching yesterday’s game when Ramiro Pena started in place of Rodriguez, it is clear the Yankees could use some help in that area but Lowell would not have been the answer.

Lowell does fit the mold of players Brian Cashman seemed to be looking for at the deadline: cheap former All-Stars who might have something left. But how is it smart to back up your 35-year-old third baseman with a bad hip with a 36-year-old third baseman with a bad hip? 

Lowell has played 31 games this season, and has 12 RBIs. The Red Sox don’t know what they’re going to do with Lowell, who remains on the DL despite him saying he’s ready to go. Lowell could be put on waivers this month, and could still be traded.

Had the deal gone down it would have been interesting because the archrival Yankees and Red Sox would have been in business together. Technically it wouldn’t have been a trade between them because the Rangers would have been the intermediary.

The Yankees and Red Sox have not made a trade with each other since Aug. 13, 1997, when the Yankees got Mike Stanley from Boston for Tony Armas.