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One of the most valuable contributors to the Red Sox team of the past few years has been Mike Lowell. Few fans and personnel within the organization seem to recognize this, though.

Lowell has been a key contributor to this team since joining it a few years ago. Look at what he did on Tuesday night, with his three run home run in the 3th, followed by a two-run shot in the 5th, winning the game for the team against the Tigers. He’s now batting .368 since coming off the DL.

All he’s done is stay quiet and not complain despite having his playing time cut due to ongoing recovery from off-season hip surgery and the recent additions of Victor Martinez and Adam Laroche-then-Casey Kotchman that has resulted in a regular rotation of the corner infield positions. Since being acquired as a throw-in to the Josh Beckett-for-Hanley Ramirez and prospects deal prior to the 2006 season, the 35-year-old has been a consistent force at the hot corner, both with his glove and the bat. He could have felt slighted at how he was viewed coming into Fenway Park, but it didn’t take long for Lowell to get over with the faithful.

After a stellar 2006 (.284/47 doubles/20 homers/84 RBI and just six errors in 462 chances), all Mr. Throw-In did was finish 5th in the A.L. MVP vote in 2007 with a .324 average, 21 homers and 120 RBI. In the run for the 2007 title, Lowell continued his dream season by hitting .353 in the postseason and driving in 15. But after an injury-riddled 2008 that saw the four-time All-Star play in just 113 games (his lowest since part-time duty in 1999), we were all ready to send the guy packing when visions of Mark Teixeira danced in our heads last winter. Then, it happened again when Adrian Gonzalez was a major point of discussion around this year’s trading deadline.

The team was always intent on shipping Lowell out, rather than switching his position or working things around him. If they couldn’t ship him, they’d bench him. While so many players in today’s game would have a huge problem with this kind of thing, Lowell has always been graceful in these situations, never showing resistance.

Despite his aging and injury issues, Lowell is having a respectable season in the hitting department, batting .297 with 13 HR in 323 ABs. Compare this to the numbers of David Ortiz, and Lowell has outdone him this season.

While Lowell may be shipped out next season, or ultimately benched or released, each season of Mike Lowell has been a pleasure to watch. He will always be a class act in Boston.

Regardless, you’ll find Lowell working hard somewhere and doing the best he can. It’s the only way he knows how.

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