The Red Sox will never get the chance to beat the Yankees in the World Series, so they did the next best thing — traded for two players who have.
The Marlins traded '03 World Series MVP Josh Beckett and three-time all-star Mike Lowell to the Sox in exchange for two touted prospects — pitcher Anibel Sanchez and infielder Hanley Ramirez — as well as minor leaguer pitcher Jesus Delgado.
Beckett will anchor a struggling starting rotation marked by youth and inconsistency. As David Wells and Tim Wakefield are thisclose to starting their twilight years in Del Boca Vista, Beckett will join established starter Matt Clement and prized pitchers Jon Papelbon and Jon Lester. Now the guitar-wielding Bronson Arroyo can return to his natural role of middle reliever.
Meanwhile, it looks like the Marlins aim to duplicate the Great Fire Sale of 1998 after they won the '97 World Series. Announcing that Beckett was being shopped around made a big splash around the league, and Lowell was among those expected to be FedEx-ed along with the young righty. First baseman Carlos Delgado is also rumored to move, and everyone knows A.J. Burnett will sign elsewhere. That leaves the Florida Fish to build around outfielder Miguel Cabrera and kickin' lefty Dontrelle Willis.
The Red Sox starters have suffered as a group ever since Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe took the 2005 Free Agent Train out of Boston and Schilling was being nagged by that darn ankle all year. While Clement filled the void of Lowe's absence, the Sox have visions of Beckett blossoming into the dominating pitcher Pedro was for years in Boston red.
Other offseason moves
► Seattle Mariners: If these guys were playing Monopoly, they'd try to land on Oriental Avenue every time. In yet another acquisition on the light blue spaces, the Mariners signed Japanese catcher Kenji Johjimi to a three year deal. He will be the first Japanese catcher to play in Major League Baseball. Kenji's claim to fame is hitting and defense — two things every team would love to see in their own catcher.
.jpg?t=20120527181101)
Article comments
1 - Scott
Marlins are trying to cut losses and run. They won't be in Miami forever, it appears.
2 - david r. mark
Look for the Sox to trade Wells, who has asked to be dealt. One rumor has him going to San Diego for CF Dave Roberts and IF Sean Burroughs. Such a deal would give the Sox OF insurance if they don't resign Johnny Damon. Burroughs could platoon with 2B prospect Dustin Pedroia and/or Alex Cora.
I wouldn't be surprised if Arroyo is also shopped. One possibility would be to send him to a pitching-starved team, like Cincinnati, to land 1B Sean Casey, who would replace Free Agents Kevin Millar and John Olerud.
As is, the rotation would be Schilling, Beckett, Wakefield, Clement and either Arroyo or Papelbon.
3 - Anthony Grande
It doesn't matter what the Sox do or try to do. The 06 season belongs to the Mets. They will sweep the Yankees in the World Series in 4 games.
4 - Victor Lana
Anthony, I agree with you that next year will be the Mets year. They won 83 games this year with:
-no 1st baseman
-no 2nd baseman
-an aging catcher
-a terrible bullpen
Billy Wagner should fit in nicely in the pen, and if the Metsies get Tom Gordon for set-up and Minaya pulls the plug and gets Manny Ramirez, the Braves can kiss 1st place good bye.
Oh, and great moves by Boston, Matt. Nothing I like better to see Boston getting stronger and the Yankees getting weaker.
Hallellujia!
5 - Matthew T. Sussman
Victor: "the Braves can kiss 1st place good bye."
The Braves will win the NL East until the end of time no matter what. But the Wild Card is still there for the Metropolitans.
6 - Anthony Grande
I also believe that Randolph's rookie year gitters are all gone and you will be a good manager in the future.
7 - Matthew T. Sussman
Anthony, I noticed you snuck in there a Yankees AL Pennant. No Indians, Red Sox, White Sox?
8 - Anthony Grande
Yeah, I think I was giving the Yankees too much credit. It just that I would like some sweet revenge from the 2000 World Series fiasco.
It doesn't matter who wins the AL pennant because whoever it is will get swept anyway.
9 - DJRadiohead
I think this was the Marlins declaring their intention to (TRY) keep Willis and Cabrera. Beckett was closest to free agency and least durable. They get one sure-fire guy who could be playing for the big league team in April and a pitcher who could be along in a year or two.
Boston gets a young arm with #1 stuff who has the luxury of being a 2.
10 - Victor Lana
Guys, Yankees are on the way down. Can anyone say Horace Clarke?
Oh, and the Braves are on the way down too. I remember the Atlanta team that used to lose 100 games back in the 70s. They're headed to hell with the Yankees. I wish I could say rest in peace but more like rest in pieces to those godawful SOBs.
11 - Anthony Grande
And I'll be dancing on their graves while wearing my Mets cap.
12 - Matthew T. Sussman
I haven't seen any decline in the Braves. I just see an ever-evolving team finding ways to win in an always highly-competitive division.
13 - Anthony Grande
I believe the only thing that the Braves have that is superior to most teams is their coaching. Bobby Cox is a great manager. I believe Willie Randolph, of the Mets, has the potential to be a Bobby Cox or Joe Torre.
14 - Matthew T. Sussman
Their other treasure is their GM. John Shuerholz has done nothing but bring in talent since 1991. He's done it before, during and after the Moneyball era. He got a pitching staff together after losing Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, Kevin Millwood, Denny Neagle, Odalis Perez and Jason Marquis.
15 - Michael J. West
Are the lifelong Red Sox fans among us cool with the Mets yet? I mean, does '04 effectively cancel out '86?
Or are we applying all of that victory to canceling out decades of Yankee oppression?
16 - Anthony Grande
Naw, their still embarrassed and humiliated.
17 - Michael J. West
'86 was worse than embarrassing and humiliating. It proved, beyond all reasonable doubt, that divine forces exist and they're conspiring against the Red Sox.
18 - Victor Lana
Michael J.
As a lifelong Mets fan, I have also been a Red Sox fan. Besides the Mets, I have rooted for the Red Sox for years. Why? Because, despite the Sox having a longer history, they're kindred spirits with the Mets. Also, any entity that is opposed to the Yankees is for me.
The one thing the Red Sox teams have always had is "Heart" (as have Mets teams). The arrogance, the swagger, and the indignation (when losing) can be left to the Yankees. They do that so well (become indignant when losing).
Jeter won the Gold Glove and said something like it was nice, but didn't mean the same thing without winning it all. That's the Yankees for you. Bad winners; even worse losers.
19 - Matthew T. Sussman
Victor, that actually shows a lot of class on Jeter's behalf. Team awards trump indy achievements every time. I don't see that as being a bad loser.
20 - Victor Lana
Wish I could agree, Matt. Maybe you didn't see the clip and hear his voice. He was like a spoiled kid who didn't get what he wanted for Christmas.
The guy with class on the Yanks, Bernie Williams, got screwed by Steingrubber. That's what the Yanks do to guys with class (like Stottlemyre and Zimmer). They put them out to pasture with not even a ceremony. Great organization!
21 - Bob A. Booey
This trade will help the Red Sox in the short-term since they're so desperate for pitching, but it will probably be one they come to regret. Sanchez's minor league K/IP and ERA are really impressive and it's very likely that his upside will be higher than the inconsistency Beckett has shown since his World Series run. Ramirez has pretty average stats but he's always been regarded as one of the top prospects around. Delgado had a pretty solid year in the minors last year as well.
The trade has been expanded, ESPN announced tonight, to include Guillermo Mota (a solid reliever who'll help the Sox) and another minor-leaguer named Harvey Garcia to the Marlins.
The Marlins also picked up some good prospects in the Delgado Mets trade and look like they'll have a pretty good nucleus to build on after a disappointing performance this year. The real coup was getting the Sox to take ALL of Mike Lowell's contract. Lowell will probably hit better in Boston, but he's not worth $9 million a year at this stage in his career, excellent defense aside. But Boston can afford $9 million for a solid, if aging, third baseman.
That is all.
22 - fagdsg
mats fan!yeahhh