From Associated Press:
BOSTON - The Red Sox and Marlins reached a preliminary agreement Monday night on a trade that would send Florida ace Josh Beckett and third baseman Mike Lowell to Boston for three prospects.
The Marlins would get touted shortstop Hanley Ramirez and minor league pitchers Anibal Sanchez and Jesus Delgado in the deal, which was pending physicals, according to a baseball official who requested anonymity because the trade was yet to be finalized.
The Red Sox are doing business without a general manager after Theo Epstein’s departure at the end of last month.
Beckett was the MVP of Florida’s 2003 World Series win over the New York Yankees and went 15-8 with a 3.38 ERA last season, when he had problems with his shoulder and recurring blisters on his right middle finger.
A three-time All-Star, Lowell slumped to .236 with eight homers and 58 RBIs last season but won his first Gold Glove. He averaged 24 homers and 94 RBIs per season in the five years before that.
Red Sox president Larry Lucchino and assistant general manager Jed Hoyer declined to comment on a possible deal in e-mail responses to The Associated Press on Monday night. Hoyer remains in his position three weeks after Epstein’s contract expired — the former GM did not reach a new agreement with the team.
Coming off a third-place finish in the NL East, the Marlins apparently are looking to shed salary. Florida had an opening-day payroll of $60 million last season, while Boston began the year at $121 million.
The 25-year-old Beckett, eligible for salary arbitration, is expected to earn between $4 million and $5 million next year and can become a free agent after the 2007 season. Lowell, 31, is owed $9 million each of the next two seasons.
After winning the World Series in 2004, the Red Sox were swept by Chicago in the first round of the AL playoffs last month and want to improve their starting pitching this offseason.
Curt Schilling struggled all year following ankle surgery, Matt Clement had a poor second half and Bronson Arroyo was inconsistent. Tim Wakefield will return, but David Wells reportedly requested a trade after going 15-7 in the first season of a two-year contract.
Lowell could fill a vacancy at third, where the Red Sox are not expected to re-sign Bill Mueller. Kevin Youkilis, who had been the heir apparent to Mueller, could move to first because Boston is expected to let free agent Kevin Millar go.
Ramirez, considered the team’s top prospect, hit .271 with six homers, 52 RBIs and 26 stolen bases at Double-A Portland last season before going 0-for-2 with the Red Sox during a September call-up.
Sanchez went 6-1 with a 2.40 ERA for Class-A Wilmington and 3-5 with a 3.45 ERA at Portland. Delgado was 7-3 with a 3.50 ERA at Class-A Greenville. Both are 21-year-old right-handers. Ramirez will turn 22 next month.
The Texas Rangers’ pursuit of Beckett ended Monday, despite the team’s apparent willingness to trade All-Star third baseman Hank Blalock and a top pitching prospect.
New Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said he received a call Monday afternoon from Marlins GM Larry Beinfest, who told him “the Marlins are going to go in another direction with their trade.”
“The longer this went on, and the more time between when we indicated we’d meet what was ultimately their asking price, it was clear that other teams were involved,” Daniels said.
While Daniels wouldn’t be specific about what the Rangers offered, he didn’t dispute several reports that he was prepared to give up Blalock along with John Danks or Thomas Diamond, both pitchers who were recent No. 1 picks.
“This was a chance to address a need,” said Daniels, the 28-year-old who last month became the youngest GM in baseball history when he replaced John Hart. “If there are bold moves available that give us an opportunity to take big steps, we’ll take them. I’m not sure what this signals other than the fact that we’re looking to get better.”
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