BOSTON - With the trading deadline just three weeks away, injured Boston third baseman Mike Lowell had a message for the masses clamoring for the Red Sox to make a deal for a big bat.

Just wait.

While the Sox have been rumored to be exploring trades for the likes of Colorado third baseman Garrett Atkins, Lowell indicated that he is racing towards a return, possibly right after the All-Star break.

"I felt really good today," said Lowell before the Red Sox fell to the Kansas City Royals 8-6 last night. "I would be shocked if, by the end of the week, everything wasn't really in synch. It's Thursday, so that is a good sign."

Lowell was placed on the disabled list on June 30 after straining his surgically repaired right hip. He has not played since pinch hitting against Atlanta on June 27, and was last in the starting lineup on June 25.

But the veteran infielder was in uniform yesterday, and was thrilled with the way his hip reacted to the taxing pregame workout.

"I'm glowing (on the inside)," Lowell deadpanned. "I went through an extended pregame session. I took a few more swings than on a normal game day, and a lot more soft toss. It's not perfect, but I really feel good today. I am very encouraged."

Lowell, who saw his 2008 season end on Aug. 13 due to a torn hip labrum, had liquid drained from his right hip earlier this week, and also had an injection of a lubricant. He said, initially, he was very concerned when the hip didn't react.

"I felt some stiffness after the first day (of swinging)," he said. "I was in panic mode. But the doctors said that it was normal. They assured me that it was going to get better every day, and it did. I feel very good right now.

"After about the first five swings (yesterday), I didn't feel anything holding me back. It turned into a swinging session more than a rehab session."

Red Sox shortstop Nick Green was excited to see his teammate going through baseball drills and preparing to return to the order.

"Mike is a huge part of our team," said Green. "We can't wait to have him back, feeling good. He has been a big contributor in the middle of our order and playing third."

In 68 games before being placed on the disabled list, Lowell was hitting an impressive .282 with 10 home runs and 41 RBIs.

While he did say his ability to run was still holding him back a bit, he was not concerned about returning to third base full-time.

"Fielding's been fine," he said. "I took ground balls on Monday and there was no problem. My lateral movement is fine, and I am making the throws afterwards. The last step is to be comfortable sprinting, but you don't really call what I do sprinting anyways."

As excited as he was yesterday, Lowell was not about to guarantee a return after the All-Star break (July 13-16). But he also did not discount the possibility of it taking place soon.

"That'll depend on how the weekend goes," he said. "They'll see me run tomorrow, and I won't exactly be surfing during the All-Star break. But if I feel great after Saturday and Sunday, we'll see what happens.

"If it was September, and we needed the games, I think I could have played. But I don't think I would have been feeling as good as I am now. I think (the DL) was the right decision."

No one would benefit from the return of Lowell more than Kevin Youkilis. The All-Star first baseman has started every game at third base since Lowell's injury. In the 12 games before last night, he had struggled to just a .191 average (9 for 47) with just five RBIs. He was in an 0 for 15 slump before his RBI single in the first inning last night. In that time, Youk's overall batting average had dipped from .312 at the time of the injury to just .289. He did go 2 for 5 with a pair of RBIs last night.

Center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury was in Lowell's normal No. 6 spot in the order last night, going 0 for 4. He is also ready to see the veteran back in the order.

"Mike's a big part of what we do and why we are successful," said Ellsbury. "We really hope to have him back as soon as possible."

Midsummer dream

Also prior to the game, Lowell reminisced about his time playing in the famed Cape Cod Baseball League. He played in the legendary summer showcase in 1994, when he was a member of Florida International University.

While he raved about the experience, Lowell admits he was not one of the players working manual labor jobs before games.

"The year before I played in Virginia," he said. "I woke up at 6 a.m. and weeded the grass along a golf course. I had to wear these big boots because there were rattlesnakes there. For $6 an hour, it wasn't really worth it because I finished hitting about .200. I swore I was never going to work. I thought it was valuable to concentrate on baseball."