Jeff Greer
www.jeffgreersports.blogspot.com
(Boston)--Red Sox prospects Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez, both 21-years-old, discovered their "players-to-be named later" status last night when the Boston Red Sox front office traded away their two young stars for immediate help with starting pitching and power hitting.
The Red Sox received 2003 World Series MVP Josh Beckett and $18-million man Mike Lowell from the Florida Marlins in exchange for two of their most talented young Minor Leaguers.
The oft-injured Beckett threw 178 2/3 innings in 2005, winning 15 games while posting a 3.38 ERA in the process. In the three seasons prior to 2005, Beckett won just 24 games, missing a combined 32 starts due to injuries.
Mike Lowell lost his All-Star status with a dismal 2005 season, hitting just .236 in 150 games for the Florida Marlins. The 31-year-old drove in over 100 runs in 2001 and 2003, while knocking 131 homers in his six full seasons with the Marlins. Lowell has never hit over .300, but smacked 226 doubles and collected 531 RBIs between 2000 and 2005.
Ramirez, rated the number one prospect in the Red Sox farm system, found himself trapped in the Minor Leagues after Boston signed veteran shortstop Edgar Renteria to a 4-year, $40-million deal after the 2004 season. The Marlins might play Ramirez as early as next season, depending on the health of their current shortstop, Alex Gonzalez.
Anibal Sanchez, a 2005 Futures Game World All-Star, pitched for Boston's Double-A affiliate, Portland, Me., for the latter half of the 2005 season, posting a 3.96 ERA with five losses. Sanchez positioned himself to see considerable time in future seasons with the Major League club, and the Marlins might need him immediately upon the departure of aces AJ Burnett and Josh Beckett.
Florida and Boston still need to work out the contract of Mike Lowell, who is set to earn $18-million over the next two seasons. The Marlins reportedly agreed to cover much of the contract, despite their intent to clear payroll.
The teams will announce the finalized deal on Wednesday.
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Best Bud’s
14 years ago
2 comments:
You seem to be agianst this deal. Josh Beckett + Guiermo Mota equals much improved pitching. Besides Mike Lowell will get back on the juice and be fine. You should probably blog about the 2006 warwick softball team.
I'm offended by that last line.
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