Checkup time for Beckett

Sox' next target may be Rangers' 1B

November 23, 2005|Globe Staff

Surely, they are oiling the valve caps on the trumpets on Yawkey Way, preparing to publicly proclaim the rebirth of Marlins righthander Josh Beckett as Red Sox ace Josh Beckett. But that proclamation didn't come yesterday, because the Sox are taking full advantage of a 72-hour window permitted by Major League Baseball to inspect the merchandise before completing the deal.

The Sox have requested and hope to receive the 25-year-old Beckett's full medical records today. Those would include two recent MRIs of his right shoulder, reports written by the doctors who evaluated his throwing shoulder, and journals kept by the Marlins' training staff throughout his career documenting each of the blisters on the middle finger on his throwing hand. Six times in four-plus big-league seasons blisters have landed Beckett on the disabled list, though the issue appears less persistent than it was earlier in his young career.

The Sox presumably will take the same diligent approach with Mike Lowell, the other player the club agreed to acquire in a deal that came together Monday night, a deal that when finalized will send prospects Hanley Ramírez, Anibal Sanchez, and Jesus Delgado to Florida. It's possible that the Sox will request an in-person evaluation of Beckett and/or Lowell, though an analysis of medical records, coupled with a phone conversation with each player, could be enough to satisfy the club.

Provided that the players involved check out physically, an announcement of the deal could come as soon as today or as late as Friday, given the Thanksgiving holiday. Beckett, as of yesterday, was hunting near his vacation home on Herradura Ranch, south of San Antonio, where the native Texan makes his primary residence.

Meanwhile, according to two major league sources, the Sox have spoken with the Texas Rangers about trading for first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2000 draft. The 23-year-old Gonzalez, who hits lefthanded, split last season between Triple A Oklahoma and Texas. He hit .338 with 18 homers and 65 RBIs in 326 at-bats with Oklahoma, .227 with 6 homers and 17 RBIs in 150 at-bats with Texas.

While the Rangers are believed to be interested in acquiring an outfield prospect, possibly Double A outfielder Brandon Moss, the Sox are likelier to offer up Triple A catcher Kelly Shoppach. Shoppach is a native of Fort Worth.

If the Sox were to acquire Gonzalez, they could go with a first-base platoon of Gonzalez and the righthanded-hitting Kevin Youkilis. Youkilis appeared likely to start at third base in 2006 until the deal for Beckett, which required the Sox to take on Lowell, a Gold Glove winner at third base who is scheduled to make $9 million each of the next two seasons.