Blog 13

Blog #13: Acquiring the Big Fishes: Revisiting the Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell Trade

(Left) Josh Beckett throwing a pitch during the first inning of a 7-0 Red Sox win against the New York Yankees on June 9, 2009. (Right) Mike Lowell running to first game during a Red Sox game in April 2009. Photos via The Enterprise.

By OwBroMedia

August 20, 2025 | Boston, MA

BOSTON- As the Red Sox recently wrapped up a series win over the Miami Marlins, taking two games to one, there isn’t much history between the two teams. With Boston in the American League and Miami in the National League, that makes sense. However, nearly 20 years ago, one trade significantly altered the trajectory of both franchises throughout the late 2000s and early 2010s.

On November 21, 2005, a seven-player deal was made. The Marlins sent starting pitcher Josh Beckett, third baseman Mike Lowell, and reliever Guillermo Mota to the Red Sox. In return, Boston sent a four-player prospect package to Miami, including shortstop Hanley Ramirez and pitchers Aníbal Sánchez, Jesús Delgado, and Harvey García.

Beckett and Lowell made an immediate impact in Boston, helping lead the team to a 2007 World Series title, while Ramirez and Sánchez also enjoyed success in Miami. But how exactly did this trade come to be?

What Led Up to the Deal?

After breaking “The Curse” in 2004, the 2005 Red Sox starting rotation looked quite different, as Pedro Martínez and Derek Lowe left in free agency to sign lucrative deals with the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers, respectively. Boston attempted to replace them by signing David Wells and Matt Clement, with Curt Schilling, Tim Wakefield, and Bronson Arroyo returning.

The problem: the Red Sox lacked a true ace—and it showed. Schilling was expected to fill that role, but lingering effects from his 2004 ankle injury kept him on the injured list for much of the season. When he did pitch, he struggled, splitting time between the rotation and bullpen, finishing with a 5.69 ERA over 93 ⅓ innings.

Though Wakefield, Wells, Arroyo, and Clement each recorded double-digit wins (with Wakefield leading at 16), their success came largely thanks to the offense, as all posted ERAs north of 4.00—specifically, 4.15, 4.45, 4.51, and 4.57.

Following their ALDS exit at the hands of the eventual champion Chicago White Sox, Boston’s biggest need was clear: a top-of-the-line ace—the very ingredient that fueled their 2004 title.

Meanwhile, over 1,500 miles away in Miami, the Marlins had just completed an 83–79 season, missing the playoffs for the second straight year. Their 2003 World Series title already felt like a distant memory. Facing declining attendance, owner Jeffrey Loria opted to shed payroll and rebuild with a younger, cheaper core.

That rebuilding began with a fire sale, trading away several veteran stars including Carlos Delgado, Juan Pierre, and Paul Lo Duca. The centerpiece of this sell-off? Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell.

Beckett was coming off a solid season, going 15–8 with a 3.38 ERA and 158 strikeouts in just over 200 innings. But with the emergence of Dontrelle Willis—who led the league with 22 wins and finished second in Cy Young voting—the 2003 World Series MVP became expendable.

Lowell, on the other hand, was coming off a down year, hitting just .236/.298/.658 with a -0.9 WAR. Still owed $16.5 million over two years, the Marlins looked to package him with Beckett in a deal to get off his salary.

Newsflash: The Deal Almost Didn’t Happen

While Boston eventually won the sweepstakes, Beckett nearly landed in Texas with the Rangers, along with Lowell. The proposed return for Miami included promising third baseman Hank Blalock and left-handed pitching prospect John Danks.

The deal reportedly fell through due to the Rangers’ reluctance to include their top prospect, Joaquín Arias, without receiving an additional pitcher in return.

That’s when the Red Sox swooped in. They ultimately acquired Beckett, Lowell, and Mota in exchange for top prospect Hanley Ramirez and pitchers Aníbal Sánchez, Jesús Delgado, and Harvey García.

The Marlins originally pushed for Jon Lester instead of Sánchez or Delgado, but Boston refused. That negotiation decision paid off handsomely.

Results from the Deal

Before any of the acquired players even suited up, the Red Sox flipped Guillermo Mota in a trade centered around outfielder Coco Crisp, who replaced the departed Johnny Damon in center field and played three seasons in Boston (2006–2008).

Josh Beckett

Beckett struggled in his first season in Boston but eventually became the ace Boston envisioned, forming a formidable 1–2 punch with Jon Lester through the late 2000s and early 2010s. From 2006 to 2012, Beckett made 194 starts, going 89–58 with a 4.17 ERA and 1,108 strikeouts over 1,240 innings, accumulating 22.3 WAR.

His best season came in 2007:

• 20 wins (led AL)
  
  

• 3.27 ERA
  
  

• 194 strikeouts in 200 ⅔ innings
  
  

• 6.7 WAR (led AL pitchers)
  
  

• 3.08 FIP (led AL)
  
  

• Second in Cy Young voting
  
  

• ALCS MVP
  
  

• 4–0 with a 1.20 ERA and 35 strikeouts in the postseason
  
  

He was later part of the infamous 2012 salary dump that sent him, Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, and Nick Punto to the Dodgers.

Mike Lowell

Lowell instantly found success in Boston, playing from 2006 to 2010. Over five seasons, he slashed .290/.346/.814, collected 650 hits, 143 doubles, 80 home runs, and 374 RBIs, while playing solid defense at third base and generating 10.6 WAR.

His best year? Also 2007:

• .324/.378/.879 slashline
  
  

• 191 hits
  
  

• 37 doubles
  
  

• 21 home runs
  
  

• 120 RBIs
  
  

• All-Star selection
  
  

• 5th in AL MVP voting
  
  

• World Series MVP: .353/.410/1.018 in the postseason with 15 RBIs
  
  

Lowell retired in 2010, but his legacy in Boston remains secure.

Miami’s Return

While Delgado and García combined for just 10 appearances, both Hanley Ramirez and Aníbal Sánchez found individual success—even if the Marlins never made the postseason during their tenure.

Hanley Ramirez

The former number one Red Sox prospect played seven seasons with the Marlins (2006–2012), slashing .300/.374/.873 with 1,103 hits, 232 doubles, 148 home runs, and 482 RBIs. He won Rookie of the Year in 2006, was a three-time All-Star, and earned two Silver Sluggers. He compiled 26.9 WAR in Miami.

His 2009 season was historic:

• .342/.410/.954
  
  

• 197 hits
  
  

• 24 home runs
  
  

• 106 RBIs
  
  

• NL Batting Title
  
  

• 2nd in MVP voting
  
  

Tensions flared in 2012 when Miami moved him off shortstop to third base for free agent signing, José Reyes, leading to a midseason trade to the Dodgers. Ironically, he returned to Boston in 2015 via free agency but was ultimately released in 2018 after inconsistent performance.

Aníbal Sánchez

Though inconsistent, Sánchez produced three seasons with 3+ WAR. He pitched for the Marlins from 2006 to 2012, going 44–45 with a 3.75 ERA, 676 strikeouts, and 14.1 WAR in 133 games.

In just his 13th career start, he threw a no-hitter against the Diamondbacks. His best full season came in 2011:

• 3.67 ERA
  
  

• 202 strikeouts in 196.1 innings
  
  

• Three complete games (two shutouts)
  
  

• 3.7 WAR
  
  

He was dealt to the Tigers at the 2012 deadline, helping them reach the World Series. In 2013, he won the AL ERA title (2.57) and helped lead Detroit to the ALCS.

Final Verdict

In total, the Red Sox received 32.9 WAR from Beckett and Lowell, while the Marlins got 41 WAR from Ramirez and Sánchez. While Miami may have technically won the trade on paper, Boston certainly doesn’t win the 2007 World Series without the postseason heroics of Beckett and Lowell—who earned ALCS and World Series MVP honors, respectively.

This deal proves that sometimes, high-risk trades pay off. And for the Red Sox, there are absolutely no regrets.