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Beckett trade is finalized

This time, they didn't wait until the day after Thanksgiving. They did it on Thanksgiving Day itself . . . albeit rather LATE in the day.

Late Thursday night the Red Sox announced that their deal with the Florida Marlins for ace pitcher Josh Beckett was official. It's the second time in three years the Sox acquired a No. 1 starter over the Thanksgiving holiday; in 2003, they snared Curt Schilling from the Diamondbacks in a deal that was finalized on Friday, rather than on Thanksgiving Day.

But the deal had a twist that wasn't included in the original trade, news of which leaked out Monday. In addition to Beckett and third baseman Mike Lowell, Boston also got some bullpen help in the person of veteran reliever Guillermo Mota. And the Sox, according to the Associated Press, will send minor league right-hander Harvey Garcia to the Marlins in addition to shortstop Hanley Ramirez and pitchers Anibal Sanchez and Jesus Delgado.

The Red Sox will hold a news conference Friday, and a conference call with the players involved is expected to be arranged, as well.

Red Sox Nation has had four days of anticipation about the acquisition of Beckett, with confirmation of the trade held up pending an examination of Beckett's medical reports. The Sox reportedly had concerns about the shoulder stiffness that prompted Beckett to skip his final two starts after the Marlins had been eliminated from postseason play. Beckett, for his part, insisted he was fine -- an MRI showed no damage -- and said he would have pitched had Florida been alive in the playoff race.

As it turns out, the teams took the additional time to expand the deal slightly. Mota, 32, has played seven seasons in the majors with the Expos, Dodgers and Marlins, and was 2-2 with 2 saves and a 4.70 ERA in 56 games last season. He gives the Sox' thin bullpen some additional depth.

-- Art Martone

Posted by Art  at 11:29 PM | Permalink

Red Sox get their man

When he's healthy and he's on, Beckett can chew up hitters like nobody's business.
-- The 2005 Scouting Notebook

It's not 1997 all over again. It's not Pedro Martinez coming to Boston just as his career is gaining steam down the runway and getting ready to lift off towards Cooperstown.

But it's close.

Josh Beckett is the best pitcher who'll change uniforms this offseason, and he gives the Red Sox what they sorely lacked throughout 2005: A top-of-the-rotation starter. Should his acquisition be coupled with a comeback by Curt Schilling and a blossoming by Jonathan Papelbon, the Sox could have one of the best rotations in the American League next season. In the years to come, a Beckett-Papelbon-Jon Lester threesome could be the match of any starting trio in baseball.

His four-seam fastball tops out at 97 MPH and he gets good movement on his sinker at 92-94 MPH. He has a . . . 12-to-6 curveball that is the equal of Kerry Wood's . . .

Beckett's only 25 years old -- he won't turn 26 until next May -- but he already has a World Series-clinching triumph at Yankee Stadium under his belt. ''He may be the next great, big-time power pitcher,'' said ESPN's Peter Gammons, and his record last year (15-8, 3.38 ERA) began to reflect the potential baseball people have seen in him since he first joined the Marlins in 2001.

[His] changeup isn't as consistent as it should be at this stage in his develepment . . . Beckett has tinkered with a splitter but has yet to develop the confidence to throw it regularly in tight spots. His biggest problem remains his bursts of anger when things go wrong on the mound. He still struggles to put bad pitches and bad calls behind him and tends to brood, sometimes for days, after disappointing outings.

He's not perfect, and his development still has a ways to go. The little flag over his picture in the Scouting Notebook reads ``Cy Young Stuff,'' not ``Cy Young Winner.'' Still, having Cy Young stuff is the biggest step toward being a Cy Young winner. Red Sox fans have reason to be happy on this late fall evening.

For more than one reason.

Because what Beckett's acquisition also does is lift the cloud of gloom that has hung over the franchise since the shocking announcement on Halloween night that Theo Epstein was leaving. The Red Sox, reeling from Epstein's departure, have been described as rudderless. Some have said they were letting the offseason get away from them, falling behind in trade and free-agent negotiations as they continue to search for a new general manager.

Instead, they made a deal that would have done Epstein proud. Certainly one Epstein would have praised for -- to the heavens -- had he made it.

Which is not to say Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez aren't blue-chip prospects, because they are. But it's not a) as if they're guaranteed to achieve the sort of success Beckett has already had in the major leagues, and b) they were being traded for someone like Schilling, a late-30s veteran nearing the end of the line. Josh Beckett hasn't yet hit his prime. When he does, the Red Sox should reap almost as many, if not more, benefits than they would had they kept Ramirez and Sanchez.

Mike Lowell is the skunk at this garden party -- a 32-year-old who lost nearly 60 points off his batting average, saw his home-run total drop from 27 to 8, and who is owed $9 million in each of the next two seasons. He was the attachment without whom the deal couldn't have been made, same as he was with another of Florida's starters, A.J. Burnett, last July when the Sox were dickering with the Marlins at the trading deadline. The Sox wouldn't bite when Lowell's appendage was Burnett. But when it was Beckett, they decided it was worth the risk.

There's hope Lowell will rebound in 2006, and moving to Fenway Park may spark a comeback. There's also a chance the Sox could flip him; it's been reported in the St. Paul Pioneer Press that the Twins are interested -- as long as someone else pays a good chunk of Lowell's salary -- and could offer pitching (Kyle Loshe, J.C. Romero and/or Scott Baker) in return. Those names should intrigue the Sox, who need bullpen help.

But they needed top-of-the-rotation help more. Last night, it appears they got it.

Did they ever.

Art Martone is the sports editor of the Providence Journal. He can be reached via e-mail at amartone@projo.com

Posted by Art  at 8:59 PM | Permalink | Comments 2

Gammons: Red Sox acquire Josh Beckett

ESPN's Peter Gammons reported moments ago that the Red Sox have acquired starting pitcher Josh Beckett from Florida in a deal that sends two of their prized prospects -- shortstop Hanley Ramirez and pitcher Anibal Sanchez -- to the Marlins.

The Sox also will receive veteran third baseman Mike Lowell from the Marlins, and will send a player to be named to Florida.

Gammons says the deal is pending physicals for the players involved. Independent sources indicate the report is factual. Gammons also added the Red Sox would have no comment tonight.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram is also reporting the deal has been completed. (Registration required.)

More to come . . .

Posted by Art  at 7:34 PM | Permalink | Comments 1

Lucchino issues statement about Epstein

BOSTON -- Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino, who has made himself more and more visible in the last week, finally addressed the departure of ex-general manager Theo Epstein in a statement released Thursday afternoon.

''Although we are disappointed with the outcome, we respect Theo Epstein's decision to decline our offer of a contract extension,'' said Lucchino, who has received widespread public blame for Epstein's decision to leave. ''We worked hard to reach an agreement that would be acceptable to both the organization and to Theo, but he has decided to take another path. I wish him all good luck wherever that path may take him. Theo and I have known each other for nearly fourteen years. Let there be no doubt that I am fond of Theo, and I have developed over the years great respect for his mind, his energy, his work ethic, and his overall ability.

''I would like to respond to two specific points about which I have been asked. First, why did I not attend Theo's press conference last Wednesday? I was actually preparing to do so, as an observer, when my boss, John Henry, expressed the preference that I not do so. Therefore, I watched the proceedings on NESN. When I heard John's very complimentary and very generous remarks about me, I understood why he felt it might have been awkward for me to be in the room.

''Second, of course, people have asked me to speculate upon the reasons for Theo's decision. I shall not do so. Theo correctly characterized our meetings as 'honest discussions that are private'; he made it clear that his decision was based upon factors that are 'very personal'. I respect Theo's privacy, and I will not speculate publicly about the reasons for his decision. The media has had, in my view, ample opportunity to ask him, and I decline to say more than he chose to say about what are, in fundamental ways, matters personal to him.

''I am grateful for the many contributions Theo made to the Red Sox. He exercised impressive leadership of our baseball operations department. The team performed well during his tenure. The 2004 World Championship was a great triumph for us all, but there were numerous other less glamorous triumphs as well. Theo played an integral role in most of those achievements. He made a very positive contribution to the continuing story of the Boston Red Sox, and I believe that his place in the history of the club is positive and secure.

''His departure, however, does not terminate that history. John, Tom, and I are optimistic about the future of this franchise. The Red Sox are in an excellent place, with outstanding people filling roles throughout the organization. There is every reason to look forward to exciting and, I predict, successful seasons for years to come.

''While, as I stated above, I shall have no further comment on Theo's decision to decline our offers, I shall, of course, be available to the media to address Red Sox issues, including, most immediately, the process that will culminate in our selection of a new General Manager.''

Posted by Art  at 4:51 PM | Permalink | Comments 1

Sox to interview Bowden and Beattie

Washington Nationals general manager Jim Bowden and former Baltimore Orioles boss Jim Beattie will interview with the Boston Red Sox to replace departed GM Theo Epstein.

Red Sox spokesman Glenn Geffner said Monday night the two would likely be interviewed by controlling owner John Henry and team president Larry Lucchino. The time and place of the interviews hasn't been determined.

In addition, the Red Sox have received permission to interview two officials of unidentified teams. Boston will announce the names when the interviews have been scheduled.

-- JOURNAL WIRE REPORTS

Posted by Art  at 1:24 AM | Permalink

Lucchino speaks . . . sort of

Larry Lucchino -- the general public's designated villain in the Theo Epstein negotiations -- has been incommunicado since Epstein made the decision not to accept the Red Sox' offer a contract extension. He has declined all media requests for interviews, including one from WEEI Radio's Dennis and Callahan Show, on which he appears weekly during the regular season.

But Friday evening, the Red Sox released a statement in which Lucchino, the team's president and CEO, was quoted liberally.

It had nothing to do with Epstein, however. It was about the upcoming general managers meetings at Palm Springs, Calif., where the Red Sox -- in the absence of Epstein -- will be represented by director of player development Ben Cherington, assistant to the GM Jed Hoyer, special assistant to the GM Craig Shipley, and director of baseball operations Peter Woodford.

``While the general managers meetings traditionally represent a time when clubs lay groundwork for moves that could potentially be made at the winter meetings or later in the offseason, the Red Sox head to Palm Springs open for business,'' Lucchino said in the statement, which was released last evening by the team.

``Our baseball operations team is armed with an offseason plan and a list of priorities. Like 29 other clubs, they are certainly heading to Palm Springs to listen and gather information for later in the winter, but, make no mistake, they are also empowered to spak with other clubs and with agents and to consummate any deal they feel will be in the best interests of the Boston Red Sox.

``This group has the full confidence of the ownership and management of the Red Sox.

``In addition to meeting with clubs to discuss trade possibilities, we do expect our baseball operations staff will have conversations with agents for several of our current free agents as well as representatives for other players on this winter's free-agent market. We hope and expect it will be a useful week for the Red Sox.''

-- ART MARTONE

Posted by Art  at 6:00 PM | Permalink | Comments 3

A lot of talk, few answers

1:50 p.m.
Epstein and Henry talked for a total of about 45 minutes, but never addressed the specific reason for Epstein's departure. The question of why never got answered. Some sports journalists may have left the press conference more confused than before. Like many Sox fans, Henry seemed bowled over by Epstein's unexpected departure. He looked stricken. This will have a long-lasting effect on the organization.

Reported by Art Martone.

Posted by Jack Perry  at 1:50 PM | Permalink | Comments 3

Henry takes the blame

1:35 p.m.
Principal owner John Henry addressed the media after Epstein finished talking, calling Epstein "a remarkable young man" and saying he blamed himself for Epstein's departure. He said it bothers him to hear criticism of Lucchino. Henry said "never in my wildest dreams" did he think Epstein would leave the Sox. He expected Epstein to be GM for "the rest of my life."

Posted by Jack Perry  at 1:36 PM | Permalink

A man in demand?

1:30 p.m.
Epstein acknowledged that another team has contacted him "through an intermediary" within the past 24 hours, but Epstein put them off, saying he was focusing on helping the Sox prepare for the general managers meeting.

Posted by Jack Perry  at 1:32 PM | Permalink

Don't blame Larry

1:20 p.m.
Some have blamed Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino for Epstein's departure, saying the relationship between the pair had soured, but Epstein took the CEO off the hook.
"It's not fair to attribute my decision to any one factor or any one person," Epstein said. "Many factors went into my decision. It was not a
decision I took lightly."

Posted by Jack Perry  at 1:19 PM | Permalink

Hopes dashed.

1:05 p.m. Hopes were quickly dashed for those Sox fans thinking that Theo might have changed his mind. Theo started the press conference by reading from the statement he gave when he resigned Monday and said he still stands by it.

Posted by Jack Perry  at 1:05 PM | Permalink

Waiting for Theo

12:40 p.m. With 20 minutes to go before the start of Theo Epstein's press conference, a huge media crowd --
including some 50 to 75 reporters, photographers, columnists and editors -- has already gathered at Fenway Park.
Epstein's story has attracted national interest. (There aren't any seats left.) Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News is among the writers waiting at the Crown Royal Club behind the third-base grandstand to hear from the former GM.

Reported by Art Martone.

Posted by Jack Perry  at 12:41 PM | Permalink