Deal in place to bring Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to the BoSox

[WhollyHeretic]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2232211

I'm glad to see the Sox front office isn't paralyzed because of the lack of a GM.

[rockymountaindem]

1. So if the Sox get Lowell

Where will he play? Seriously. We've already got Mueller, plus Youkilis who the Sox want to keep and want to use every day. I've heard about sending Mueller to another team, or that he might retire, but that's why we have Youk. I like Youkilis and I'd hate to see him go. Lowell can't go to Short because we have Ed-gah who we've paid a lot of money for.

If this deal goes through, I'd look for more deals in the future involving Mueller, Renteria or Youkilis.

On second thought, somebody could play 2nd, because I think that's a weak spot, particuarly considering the Yankees' Cano. Whether or not any of these players would play there is another issue.

[WhollyHeretic]

2. Mueller's contract ended this year.

I'm wondering if they'll move Youks to first or maybe use him in a trade for a power hitting first baseman.

I think second will be a platoon of Pedroia/Cora and maybe Pedroia will have it full time if makes the transition to the big leagues well.

I'll be sad to see Mueller go, he was one of my favorites.

[Arkana]

3. Beckett?

Excuse me while I do a happy dance.

[WhollyHeretic]

4. If Schilling is healthy then that's a damn good rotation

Schilling
Beckett
Wakefield
Paplebon
Arroyo

[Arkana]

5. Beckett, if he can return to form, is a franchise pitcher.

Building a rotation around him could be easy--and isn't he just a kid?

[WhollyHeretic]

6. I'm pretty sure he's only 25 n/t

[ticapnews]

7. Turned 25 on 5/15

His stats this season:
15-8 3.37 in 29 starts. 166K's in 178.2 IP and a WHIP under 1.20

[TomClash]

12. He's the real deal if healthy

[TomClash]

11. Probably Clement and Wake or Arroyo in the pen

Plus Wade Miller may be back. And Lester waiting in the wings.

[MaineDem]

8. I'm sorry to lose Ramirez though

Not THAT Ramirez. Hanley Ramirez.

He's been in Portland playing for the Sea Dogs and he's a potentially great shortstop. I'm sorry to see him go.

[WhollyHeretic]

9. I like to see them develop talent

But then again we have Renteria signed for 3 more years and Ramirez's numbers in AA weren't that impressive this year. I never did see him play though.

[nickgutierrez]

10. So the Marlins really are moving to Las Vegas. n/t

[TomClash]

13. Deal done and the Sox get Mota too

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2005/11/25/red_sox_finalize_an_extended_deal/

A day to give thanks, indeed. The Red Sox, who two Thanksgivings ago hooked Curt Schilling over dinner at the Schilling home in Arizona, yesterday formally reeled in not only ace Josh Beckett and third baseman Mike Lowell but a third Marlin, hard-throwing reliever Guillermo Mota, in a momentous deal expanded to seven players and announced by the club at approximately 10:30 last night.

Mota pitched only 67 innings last season, missing a month (April 24 to May 27) with inflammation in his elbow. Previous to that DL visit he'd gone 0-1 with two saves in two opportunities with a 1.86 ERA in 10 games. But, after coming off the DL, he was 2-1 with a 5.18 ERA in 46 games, with no saves in two chances. He struggled through a woeful September, allowing seven runs and 12 hits in 7 2/3 innings.

But, in 2003 and '04, he was arguably the game's best setup man. He led National League relievers in innings both seasons, pitching 201 2/3 innings total over those two seasons with a combined ERA of 2.50. He set up Eric Gagne with the Dodgers in 2003 and half of '04 before being dealt just before the deadline that summer to Florida along with Paul LoDuca and Juan Encarnacion for pitchers Brad Penny and Bill Murphy and first baseman Hee Seop Choi.