Today, the Boston Red Sox solidified the core of their pitching rotation for years to come when they locked up Josh Beckett with a 4-year, $68 million contract. Barring any kind of trade, this guarantees that the trio of Beckett, John Lester, and John Lackey will be in a Red Sox uniform until 2013.
Red Sox SP Josh Beckett
Coming off a 17- win campaign in 2009, Beckett was in the club option year of his 3 year-$30 million deal that he signed after being acquired via trade from the Florida Marlins following the 2005 season. He was slated to become a free agent after this season. Had he tested the free agent waters this fall, popular opinion is that he could have secured a C.C. Sabathia-esque deal in the neighborhood of $200 million.
Even though his performance last night against the New York Yankees was disappointing, with 5 earned runs allowed in just 4.2 innings, Beckett remains one of the best big-game pitchers in baseball. In 13 career postseason starts, he is 7-3 with 99 strikeouts, a 3.07 ERA and 3 complete game shutouts. He also owns two World Series rings; one with Florida in 2003, and one with the Red Sox in 2007.
As long as they stay healthy, the Red Sox will now have arguably the best pitching rotation in baseball for at least the next 4 years. This could also give the team flexibility to explore trading younger, more inexpensive starting pitchers such as Clay Buchholz in a potential blockbuster for someone like the Padres’ first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who has been long rumored to be headed to Boston.
A move like this would also open up a spot in the rotation for Daisuke Matsuzaka who is currently on the disabled list with a neck issue. Given their financial obligations to Matsuzaka through the year 2012, it is highly unlikely that many teams would want absorb his contract.
Buchholz’ miniscule contract dictates that his trade value is high, and he could be dangled at the trade deadline if the Red Sox offense proves to be unsatisfactory. Others might argue that you can never have enough pitching, and Buchholz is needed as insurance if 45- year old Tim Wakefield’s back begins to act up again, or if Matsuzaka’s neck injury proves to be a long-term problem.
Regardless if a trade occurs or not, the fact is that the Red Sox took a giant step today in ensuring their viability in the AL East for the immediate future. They are built to win for this season as well as years to come. There aren’t many lineups in baseball who will be excited to face the 3-headed monster of Beckett, Lester, and Lackey in a playoff series for the next few seasons. With this rotation, come October, the Red Sox will have an excellent shot to return to the World Series.
