Red Sox complete trade for Beckett

BOSTON -- The Marlins and Red Sox completed the trade that sent ace Josh Beckett and third baseman Mike Lowell to Boston on Thursday night, but not before reliever Guillermo Mota was added to a deal that netted Florida four prospects.

The tentative agreement was reported and confirmed by baseball officials earlier in the week, but it wasn't finalized until Thanksgiving. The announcement included two previously unreported names: Mota is headed to Boston and minor league right-hander Harvey Garcia to the Marlins.

Florida also gets top shortstop prospect Hanley Ramirez along with pitchers Anibal Sanchez and Jesus Delgado. Hours earlier, the salary-slashing Marlins traded slugger Carlos Delgado and most of his $48 million contract to the New York Mets for first baseman Mike Jacobs and two minor leaguers.

It is the second time in three years that Boston has traded for a potential ace over Thanksgiving. In 2003, the Red Sox acquired Curt Schilling from the Arizona Diamondbacks and rode him to the World Series title the next year.

The 25-year-old Beckett is at the other end of his career. But persistent blister problems and late-season shoulder soreness have stalled his development.

The Red Sox are still looking for a general manager to replace Theo Epstein, but that didn't stop them from pulling off a deal that should give Schilling help at the top of the rotation. Lowell will replace Bill Mueller, who filed for free agency.

Boston officials did not respond to requests for comment. Florida general manager Larry Beinfest conceded that the Marlins were forced to purge payroll.

"This trade is difficult, but necessary because of the payroll market correction," he said. "Mike and Josh were key players on our 2003 World Series championship team, and they'll both be missed. We wish them all well in Boston."

The Marlins received permission from the commissioner's office to explore a move after the 2007 season because of the failure to get government support for a 38,000-seat stadium next to the Orange Bowl.

Beckett is eligible for salary arbitration and expected to make between $4 million and $5 million next season. He can become a free agent after the 2007 season. Lowell, 31, won a Gold Glove this year but his offense dropped off and he is owed $9 million each of the next two seasons.