Posted on 11/21/2005 7:02:06 PM PST by misterrob
The Red Sox and Marlins have come to a tentative agreement on a trade that would send Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to Boston for shortstop Hanley Ramirez, right-handed prospect Anibal Sanchez and a minor-league pitcher.
The deal is contingent on the finalization of paperwork and all players passing physicals, sources outside the Red Sox organization have told ESPN's Peter Gammons. An official announcement is not expected for a day or two, which leaves open the possibility that it could still fall apart, Gammons said on SportsCenter.
Only some last-minute haggling over dollars appeared to be holding up the deal, a baseball official with knowledge of the discussions told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark. Florida would include cash in the trade to offset some of the $18 million owed to Lowell over the next two seasons.
In return, the Red Sox would give up Ramirez, their much-ballyhooed shortstop prospect, and Sanchez. The Marlins originally had targeted left-hander Jon Lester, but Boston balked at including him in the trade, so the Red Sox agreed to add a second minor leaguer if Florida took Sanchez instead, Stark reports.
SNIP
Beckett went 15-8 with a 3.38 ERA last season, when he had problems with his shoulder and recurring blisters on his right middle finger.
Lowell hit .236 with eight homers and 58 RBI while winning the NL Gold Glove at third base last season. He averaged 24 homers and 94 RBI per season in the five years before that.
Beckett is expected to earn between $4 million and $5 million next season.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.espn.go.com ...
Ping
Title should read: Red Sox on verge of acquiring Beckett, Lowell
My apologies.
Sweet, as they say.
From redsox.com
Bill Mueller, who played third base the last three seasons for the Red Sox, is a free agent. While it was widely assumed that Kevin Youkilis would take over at third base if Mueller left, this potential trade with the Marlins could set the wheels in motion for Youkilis to be part of Boston's first base puzzle in 2006.
Wells will probably be traded
He wants out. The deal being discussed is Fatso going to the Padres with Dave Roberts and a set up guy coming to the Sox in return. If they were to get Roberts then they would likely dump Damon and use his money to sign someone else. The Sox are going to go through a transition next year but with 2 good set up men and with the return of Foulke or the emergence of Craig Hanson the back of the pen looks good.
Wow, interesting... thanks for the heads up. Beckett sounds great, not sure about Lowell. I'm a little surprised the BoSox would give up their minor league (Portland Sea Dogs) "prized shortstop prospect" Hanley Ramirez so soon...
Lowell was part of any deal for Beckett. For what it's worth, he was a Gold Glove fielder in the past and he has had good years. Maybe Fenway will do him some good. In essence you trade Millar and Mueller for Lowell and Youk. Ramirez will likely play in the big leagues but The Red Sox couldn't pitch this year as they did the year before. Beckett, Papelbon and John Lester sound like a great trio to have for years to come. Plus, Hanson, DelCarmen and this kid Edgar Martinez in the minors sound pretty promising.
interesting yes....but I wonder if Beckett can pitch as well in Boston as he did in Florida.
They are widely different fields.
If he can, this is the piece that Boston was really missing last year.
If not, can you say Derek Lowe?
Gammons also has a bad habit of putting every trade through Boston.
We could just sign a free agent like Jarrod Washburn (a top lefty with a record of success in the AL), keep the prospects AND some cash AND not have the dead weight hanging around.
Heck, if we want to spend $13M/yr we might as well have kept Pedro, again not giving up any prospects or taking on dead weight.
I like Beckett, but we can do better in terms of money and talent. He's a free agent in, what, one more year?
I do like that they're not giving up Lester.
What am I missing here -- this looks like an absolute steal on the Red Sox's part? What is Florida getting out of this?
So do the Yankees sign Damon?
Whatever $13M a year will buy them (a top starter, profitability?), a roster space, plus a great upside prospect in Hanley (no guarantees of course) and a decent pitching prospect close to the bigs.
Lowe did well in the playoffs but spent the rest of 2004 in a funk. I don't recall him doing well in 2003 either.
Beckett will need a year of Schilling helping him out but he could do okay. Remember, he went into Yankee Stadium and shut out/CG the Wankees in G6 of the 03 WS.
Payroll space and a few prospects
And $13+M/yr
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