Sox agree on trade for Beckett

Marlins' ace would cost top prospect Ramírez

November 22, 2005|Globe Staff

With Theo Epstein off quietly living his life, and the general manager search reaching periodic points of inertia, the Red Sox last night were on the verge of acquiring Marlins pitcher Josh Beckett, a momentous move that would position the club with an ace around which to build its pitching staff for perhaps a decade to come.

Pending physicals, the 25-year-old Beckett, MVP of the 2003 World Series, will come to Boston along with 2005 Gold Glove-winning third baseman Mike Lowell and the entire balance of Lowell's cumbersome contract, according to two major league sources. The Sox, the sources said, will send to Florida two of the organization's top prospects, Double A shortstop Hanley Ramírez and Double A righthander Anibal Sánchez, as well as another lesser prospect, Single A pitcher Jesus Delgado. The sources indicated that no money is changing hands in the deal.

Baseball America is expected to rank Ramírez the Sox' third-best prospect (he was No. 1 a year ago), Sánchez fourth, and Delgado 18th.

Sox president/CEO Larry Lucchino refused comment last night.

The deal would represent somewhat of a coup for the Red Sox, since the Texas Rangers, by all indications, were in closest pursuit of Beckett over the last few days, reportedly offering up economical and productive third baseman Hank Blalock (under contract for a total of $13.7 million over the next three seasons) and one of the organization's top two pitching prospects, John Danks or Thomas Diamond. But Texas GM Jon Daniels reportedly received a call yesterday afternoon informing him that the Marlins would be going another route.

Beckett, who will turn 26 in May, went 15-8 with a 3.38 ERA in 29 starts in 2005, and in 103 career starts over four-plus seasons, he is 41-34 with a 3.46 ERA, all with Florida, the team that drafted him second overall in 1999.

Beckett rocketed to prominence during the 2003 postseason, when as a 23-year-old he pitched complete-game shutouts in Game 5 of the NLCS vs. the Cubs and in a clinching Game 6 of the World Series vs. the Yankees, the latter appearance on three days' rest. Beckett also pitched four innings in relief in Game 7 of the 2003 NLCS, allowing one run just three days after his Game 5 start.