BECKETT TO BOSTON IN BLOCKBUSTER
The Boston Red Sox acquired pitchers Josh Beckett and Guillermo Mota along with third baseman Mike Lowell from the Florida Marlins for minor-league shortstop Hanley Ramirez and minor-league pitchers Anibal Sanchez, Jesus Delgado and Harvey Garcia.
What does it give the Boston Red Sox
Beckett is easily the centerpiece of a tremendous deal for the Bo-Sox. At just 25, he already has 41 big-league wins and a World Series MVP trophy under his belt. He can squeeze into the No. 2 spot in the rotation and could even take over as the ace if Curt Schilling falters or retires during his stint in Boston. However, he has been known to suffer from a chronic blister problem. In Lowell they get another strong defensive third baseman to replace free agent Bill Mueller, and also one who can provide much more pop at the hot corner. Entering 2005, he was a consistent 25-homer threat, but suffered through an embarrassing, season-long slump in '05. A change of scenery may be just what he needs to get back on track. And Mota is a right-handed reliever who can be intimidating in the late innings. He'll most likely be used as a setup man, but could be used as closer if Keith Foulke falters again.
What does it give the Miami Marlins
The Fish have already achieved their biggest goal of the off-season: sell off pricey veterans. Fortunately, in the process they've received some pretty good prospects. Ramirez is the best of the bunch, an electrifying young shortstop with a five-tool package. He has impressive raw speed and emerging power, to go with the potential to hit .300 and strong skills up the middle. He'll be 22 come the 2006 season and could be ready to start at short by mid-season, if they don't take a chance on him earlier. Sanchez is another 21-year-old with no experience above Double-A, but he's a very good-looking righty nonetheless. He's already got a very strong arsenal, featuring a mid-90s fastball and strong curve, so he could also be less than a year away. Delgado is a slightly-built young righty who hasn't been considered a significant prospect in the Red Sox's system, but came through with a solid season in the low minors in 2005 after being switched from starting to relieving. And it's the exact same story for Garica, who's even more slightly-built than Delgado, but also enjoyed a successful move to the bullpen as Garcia's teammate.
Fantasy impact
