Thanks-Giving REDSOX style!!!

Oh boy here we go, RSN (Red Sox Nation) is dancing in the rain today as a TENTATIVE agreement is in place to trade Hanley Ramirez, Anibel Sanchez, and a PTBNL for Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell. This is what you call a Wicked Pissah of a deal here in Boston. Even though Lowell dropped considerably in product from 04-05, he is still a Gold Glove winning 3rd basemen and to get a 25 yr old stud like Beckett is a no brainer.

Here is what the great Peter Gammons had to say about the deal:

Nov. 21

In the end, the Red Sox have the tentative agreement to acquire Josh Beckett for two reasons:

1. They had the player Florida most wanted, shortstop Hanley Ramirez.
2. They would take the remaining two years and $18 million owed to Mike Lowell.

"This is a no-brainer for Boston," said one American League GM of the deal that, barring some problem with medicals, will send Beckett and Lowell to Boston for Ramirez, prized pitching prospect Anibal Sanchez and a Single-A pitcher not on Boston's 40-man roster. "Beckett is a premier player, 25 and entering his prime. He could go win the Cy Young award in the next two years."

At the end of the season, Boston's rotation had three 39- to 42-year-olds -- David Wells, Curt Schilling, Tim Wakefield -- along with Matt Clement and Bronson Arroyo. Now if they can sign Beckett, who is two years from free agency, to a long-term deal, they'll have three premier power pitchers in their rotation in Beckett, Jonathan Papelbon (24) and left-hander Jon Lester (21), plus two premier young power relievers in Craig Hansen and Edgar Martinez. That's pretty good work from Boston's GM-by-committee of Jed Hoyer, Craig Shipley, Ben Cherington, Peter Woodfork and Bill Lajoie.

The gamble for Boston is Lowell, who at 31 dropped to a .236 batting average with eight homers after averaging .285 with 30 homers, 95 RBI and an .875 OPS the previous two seasons. But his character, his Gold Glove award and encouragement that 2005 was simply an off year led Boston to take him to get Beckett. Kevin Youkilis may now play first, with Bill Mueller being a free agent and rumored to be headed to the White Sox.

Beckett has never started 30 games in a season, but he seemed to turn the corner in 2005, going 15-8.

Stuff? Unquestioned. He was in the top 10 in the NL in fewest home runs per 9 IP, strikeouts per 9 IP, hits per 9 IP, highest average fastball velocity (second to A.J. Burnett), with most pitches over 95 mph.

Heart? Game 6, Yankee Stadium, 2003 World Series.

The Marlins know they cannot sign Beckett, Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera to long-term contracts. With the many hurricanes in south Florida, they are not getting enough public funds to build a stadium. So Carlos Delgado will soon follow Beckett out of Florida -- a West Coast team might be where he winds up -- as will Juan Pierre.

But in many ways, the trade will hurt the Marlins the most, because of what Beckett has meant to the franchise. And what he, Papelbon and Lester may mean to Boston over the next six years.

Read that last paragraph again: What Beckett, Papelbon, and Lester may mean to Boston over the next six years. Damn that sounds unbelievable... All RSN needs now is a Damon signing, a Wells trade to SD for Dave Roberts and mid-relief help and Manny to stay in Beantown. The Sox are top contenders in 06. Let's GO SOX!!

Oh and I'm starting to like this routine we are getting in with our Thanksgiving trades. I mean the last one got a WS ring (two words: Curt Schilling) and this one, well lets just hope, and wait and see.

Let's GO SOX!!