Red Sox make trade official

BOSTON -- In a clear sign that baseball business is open on Yawkey Way, even without a general manager, the Red Sox on Thanksgiving evening officially announced the acquisition of a potential ace in right-hander Josh Beckett from the Florida Marlins.

The Sox also added third baseman Mike Lowell and right-handed reliever Guilermo Mota in the deal while sending four Minor League prospects -- shortstop Hanley Ramirez and three right-handed pitchers (Anibal Sanchez, Jesus Delgado and Harvey Garcia) -- to the Marlins.

Beckett becomes the most significant pitcher the Red Sox have acquired in a trade since the blockbuster that brought Curt Schilling to Boston two years ago, a transaction that was consummated the day after Thanksgiving.

"He's probably the biggest acquisition the Red Sox have made [recently] besides Schilling," said free agent first baseman Kevin Millar, who teamed with Beckett in Florida in 2001-02 before moving to Boston in 2003. "I think Josh Beckett has got the makeup and the mentality to pitch at Fenway and dominate at this level."

Though the Red Sox bid adieu to two of their best Minor Leaguers in Ramirez and Sanchez, this deal can hardly be termed as short-sighted.

The 25-year-old Beckett is just entering his prime and could emerge into one of the game's elite pitchers if he stays healthy. Of course, the Red Sox, who control his contractual rights for the next two seasons, would like to lock him up long-term before he becomes eligible for free agency following the 2007 season.

The last hang-up before the much-rumored deal became official was the Red Sox conducting their due diligence in making sure that Beckett's right shoulder, which was stiff and tired late in the 2005 season, was not a trade-breaking issue. Ultimately, they decided that Beckett's arm was sound and enthusiastically signed off on a deal that has been anticipated for days.

While it was a no-brainer to bring in a pitcher like Beckett, the Red Sox had to think a little longer and harder about adding Lowell, who is not only coming off his least productive season of his career, but is also owed a total of $18 million over the next two seasons.

The Red Sox hope that Lowell, backed by the comfortable confines of Fenway Park, will get back to the type of hitter he was in Florida's World Series championship season of 2003, when he belted 32 homers and drove in 105 runs. Lowell's numbers dipped a bit in 2004, as he smacked 27 homers and had 85 RBIs. But in 2005, Lowell never seemed right, hitting .236 with eight homers and 58 RBIs.

"I think Mikey Lowell will bounce back in a change of scenery and absolutely dominate, and I think he's very excited to be a Red Sox," said Millar, who is a close friend of Lowell's.

On the plus side, Lowell didn't let his offensive slide affect his defense, as he won the Gold Glove Award for National League third basemen in 2005.

Ever since Theo Epstein decided to relinquish his post as general manager of the Red Sox on Oct. 31, there have been questions of how the Red Sox could stay productive during the Hot Stove season without a GM in place. That question was answered emphatically with this trade.

As club president/CEO Larry Lucchino continues to interview perspective candidates, the assembled staff in baseball operations has stayed hard at work, talking trades with teams and free agency with players and/or agents.

This trade was a collaboration of front office executives Bill Lajoie, Jeremy Kapstein, Jed Hoyer, Peter Woodfork, Ben Cherington and Craig Shipley and, ultimately, Lucchino, who signed off on it.

While Ramirez had the biggest name of all the prospects involved, it was perhaps tougher for the Red Sox to part with Sanchez, given how invaluable talented young arms can be.

Sanchez, who missed the entire 2003 season due to Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, has come back strong the last two years.

He opened the 2005 season at Class A Wilmington, going 6-1 with a 2.40 ERA in 14 starts. Sanchez was then promoted to Double-A Portland, going 3-5 with a 3.45 ERA in 11 starts. It is unclear how Ramirez would have fit into Boston's future, with veteran shortstop Edgar Renteria under contract for the next three seasons. Ramirez was called up to Boston late in the 2005 season, going 0-for-2.

Ramirez hit .271 with six homers and 52 RBIs at Double-A Portland in 2005.

The lesser-known Delgado made 33 relief appearances for Class A Greenville last season, going 7-3 with a 3.50 ERA.

Garcia went 3-5 with a 2.01 ERA in 32 appearances in 2005 for Greenville.

Beckett joins a rotation that is also likely to include Schilling, Matt Clement, Bronson Arroyo and Tim Wakefield. Hard-throwing right-hander Jonathan Papelbon will also compete for a spot, assuming the Red Sox opt to move him out of the bullpen he thrived in last year. Left-hander David Wells has requested a trade and the Red Sox are likely to grant him his wish.

Lowell will take over the third base position that Bill Mueller so aptly handled the last three years. Kevin Youkilis, who was hoping to hold down that position after knocking on the door the last couple of years, might move to first base.