Mike Lowell #25 of the Boston Red Sox hits a home run against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park, April 25, 2009, in Boston, Massachusetts - Getty Images

It looks like it’s going to be another unsettling offseason for Boston Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell.

According to a report on FOXSports.com, the Red Sox have put Mike Lowell on the trade block and are willing to pay half of the remaining $12 million left on his contract for 2010.

Could this be a precursor to something even bigger, say Adrian Gonzalez of the San Diego Padres?

The Red Sox are very interested in acquiring Gonzalez and would need to move Lowell since Kevin Youkilis would shift over to third base. With Jed Hoyer as the GM in San Diego, it’s quite possible this could happen but he may hold on to Gonzalez due to his relatively low salaries in 2010 and 2011 ($4.75 million in 2010 and $5.5 million team option in 2011).

Baseball winter meetings are right around the corner so expect the hot stove to warm up even more as we get closer.