Monday, November 21, 2005

Wheelin' and Dealin'

Peter Gammons announces via ESPN that the Sox have acquired Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell in trade for Hanley Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez, and an unspecified minor league pitcher.

The Sox get an overpaid and once productive third baseman (Lowell) and a top-of-the rotation pitcher in return for their top position prospect (Ramirez) and a highly regarded righthanded pitcher (Sanchez). The Sox show a willingness to add payroll, and they do not lose key lefthander Jon Lester.

The Sox pitching staff now features Schilling, Beckett, Papelbon, Wakefield, and Clement (who knows), with power arms Hansen and Delcarmen in the bullpen to develop alongside their veterans. Where Lester winds up, we don't know.

Presumably, David Wells returns to the left coast for an unspecified spare part.

Lowell, a Gold Glover steps in at third, and whether Kevin Youkilis becomes expendable or a discount first base alternative.

The bullpen isn't entirely stabilized, Johnny Damon is on the market, and who knows whether Manny Ramirez is staying, or headed back toward New York (the Mets).

The other key to the deal is who were the principals, and do they have any inside track to the keys to the GMs office?

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