BOSTON — Mike Lowell has undergone surgery on the injured thumb that derailed his trade from the Boston Red Sox to the Texas Rangers.

The third baseman is expected to need six to eight weeks to recover after Wednesday's surgery, putting him on track for Boston's first full spring training workout on Feb. 24.

The Red Sox said the operation to repair a radial collateral ligament in his right thumb that was torn late last season was done in Phoenix by Dr. Donald Sheridan.

The Red Sox had worked out a deal to send the 2007 World Series MVP to the Rangers for catcher Max Ramirez. The trade unraveled after Lowell saw a hand specialist in Arizona on Dec. 18 and Rangers team physician Dr. Keith Meister the next day.