it's officially official.

officially.

and in case you need several more reasons to love one World Series MVP third baseman, who is nothing if not a class act:

"I really don’t believe everything should be about money," Lowell said. "I just didn’t think my happiness should be bought just by dollars."
(New York Times)

"Lowell is not only a good guy and gentleman, but he is the definition of consistency. He comes to play every day. He takes extra batting practice and extra ground balls when it is allowed."
(Gloucester Daily Times)

"I have financial security so I'd like to believe I'm not all about money," Lowell said. "I feel like I'm more of a baseball player than a businessman. I kind of weighed where I felt comfortable, where I thought I could produce the best with the team that has a chance to win a world championship, and it was Boston. On top of that, we just won and I think I played with a set of teammates that are unparalleled and with a manager the same way and with a fan base that's unbelievable.

"I think all of those came into play. I really don't believe that everything should be about money. I've had teammates in the past that have gone to other places and sometimes they have second thoughts because they took more money elsewhere. I just didn't think my happiness should just be bought by dollars."
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...Seth Levinson, one of Lowell's representatives, wrote in an e-mail. "The Sox deal is for less years and less money than had been offered by other teams. This deal was driven solely by Mike's heart and passion for the fans, his teammates, his manager and the team."
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In the end, Lowell saw to it that baseball won out over business.
(MLB.com)