The big one--Red Sox On the Verge of Landing Josh Beckett

ESPN ^ | 11/21/05 | By Peter Gammons and Jayson Stark

[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.

[Hemingway's Ghost]

You tell Papi to his face that he can't produce and play in the field.

!!!!!!

"Gimme three steps, gimme three steps Papi . . . give me three steps towards the door . . ."

[Hemingway's Ghost]

For all of Beckett's downsides, there is the MAJOR upside to him of having the bulldog of bulldogs out there mentoring him, one Mr. Curt Schilling!

A very good point, and don't forget, he'll be working with the best pitch caller in MLB---Capt. Varitek.

[corlorde]

I think a large part of Lowe's problem this year, was his little extra marital activities.

[misterrob]

He couldn't handle Boston. Too much scrutiny and Lowe is just not that mentally focused.

[JohnnyZ]

I hope they can find a sucker out there willing to take Clement.

You may have seen the rumor that the Sox offered Clement for Lyle Overbay.

The Beckett deal is final, and we get Guillermo Mota as well. That is good for our pen.

Foulke, Timlin, Mota, Hansen, Arroyo?, DiNardo, (Delcarmen, Myers?) with
Schilling, Beckett, Wake, Clement, Papelbon

[misterrob]

Clement is expensive the next two years thanks to the way the Sox did the contract. $18 million over 2, I think. Arroyo has more trade value for the Sox.

Leave the rookies in the minors for the first half of the season and use them later in the year. You never know what you have until July anyway. Timlin is old and waiting to fall apart and you don't know how Foulke will respond this year. Mota pretty much fell apart last year. The young guys are another year ahead in their development and should have the means to contribute more down the stretch.

Lesson #1, you can never have too much pitching.

[ElTianti]

Clement was great until he was hit by a batted ball in Tampa. He'll need to re-work his delivery, but that's what spring training is for.

[GraniteStateConservative]

You either trade Arroyo or you use him as a starter. He sucks against lefties (.288 BAA!) too much to use him out of the pen. He'd be as valuable as an overall player as "Chadford." Wake has to go the pen as spot starter/longman.