Mike Silverman of the Boston Herald is reporting that Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell will need surgery on his thumb, so the trade for Rangers catcher Max Ramirez is off.

Lowell will need six-to-eight weeks to recover, but should be ready to go by the time Spring Training gets going.

This could put the Rangers in the market for Adrian Beltre, or they could wait to see how Lowell does in Spring Training.