Theo who? Red Sox on verge of getting Josh Beckett

The Red Sox appear to have made the first big splash of the free agent season Monday, without a GM no less...According to ESPN.com the Red Sox and Marlins have come to a tentative agreement on a trade that would send 2003 World Series MVP Josh Beckett and gold glove 3rd baseman Mike Lowell to Boston for minor league shortstop Hanley Ramirez, right-handed prospect Anibal Sanchez and a minor-league pitcher.

The 25-year-old Beckett 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. Beckett is expected to earn between $4 million and $5 million next season. The hard throwing right hander (see Curt Schilling) averaged a strike out per inning...

So how did the Red Sox get such a stud starting pitcher? Well they are going to have to take on 3rd baseman Mike Lowell as well. The Red Sox reportedly have agreed to take on all $18 million of the money owed to Lowell over the next two seasons, however, other reports say Florida will give the Sox some money towards that contract. Lowell hit .236 with eight homers and 58 RBI while winning the NL Gold Glove at third base last season. He averaged 24 homers and 94 RBI per season in the five years before that (see Kevin Millar).

The Red Sox are giving up Ramirez (below), their prized shortstop prospect (expendable thanks to 9-years and 90 million remaining for Theo's Rent-a-wreck), and Sanchez (above). The Marlins originally had targeted left-hander Jon Lester, but Boston balked at including him in the trade, so the Red Sox agreed to add a second minor leaguer if Florida took Sanchez instead, according to ESPN.com.

Will Josh be partying on the Yankoffs lawn again? Stay tuned...