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Trades Of The Decade: Hanley Ramirez For Josh Beckett & Mike Lowell
The only sure thing the Marlins obtained on Thanksgiving Day 2005 was salary relief. Yes, they acquired Hanley Ramirez, Jesus Delgado, Harvey Garcia and Anibal Sanchez, but none of them were considered certainties. For the four players, the Marlins gave up Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell and Guillermo Mota.
The Marlins had to shed payroll, but they weren't going to relinquish Beckett in a deal that didn't include a top prospect. Hanley Ramirez fit that description perfectly. Baseball America named Hanley Boston's top prospect every year from 2003-05 and they considered him one of the game's most promising players.
But Hanley hit a pedestrian .297/.352/.430 in the minors, never tallying more than eight homers in a season. So Baseball America's Jim Callis described him as "something of an enigma" at the time of the trade.
"He has the bat speed, raw power and pitch recognition to hit .300 with 20-plus homers per season," Callis wrote. "But he has yet to show the focus and preparation to get him there."
Beckett, meanwhile, had already graduated from top prospect status to become one of the game's best young pitchers. In his last season with the Marlins, Beckett, then 25, pitched to a 3.37 ERA in 29 starts, lighting the radar gun up with a fastball that helped him strike out nearly three times as many batters as he walked. It didn't hurt that he was named 2003 World Series MVP after pitching the Marlins past the Yankees.
Beckett had a history of blister problems, but the Texan still drew interest from a number of teams, including the Rangers. He was two years away from free agency, set to make $4-5MM in arbitration.
In just one season, Mike Lowell had become a major hindrance for the Marlins. After averaging 25 homers per season in the five years preceding 2005, Lowell stopped hitting. He managed just a .236/.298/.360 line with just 8 homers in 150 games. He was due to earn a total of $18MM in 2006 and 2007, so the Marlins couldn't afford his contract
The Red Sox, under Bill Lajoie and Craig Shipley, could absorb it, so they took it on, insisting that the third baseman could revive his career. Theo Epstein was on leave at the time of the deal.
"It's not that we had to take Mike," Lajoie told the Boston Herald. "It's that we wanted Mike.''
The Red Sox were onto something. Lowell has turned in four solid seasons with the club, hitting about 20 homers per season and never posting an OPS below .798. The former Gold Glover lost a considerable amount of range this year (according to UZR) after undergoing hip surgery last offseason.
Much to the dismay of Red Sox Nation, Beckett struggled throughout his first season in Boston, allowing 36 homers and posting an ERA over 5.00 for the first time in his career. But he's been effective and durable since and hasn't come close to matching that 5.01 ERA. Only a handful of pitchers have out-performed Beckett since his first season in Boston, even though he's been playing in the AL East.
When Beckett won 20 games and Lowell slugged .501 in 2007, the Red Sox won it all. That World Championship alone makes this deal worthwhile for the Red Sox, despite what they gave up.
Hanley is one of the game's best players now, but as Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe wrote at the time, he was far from a sure thing in 2005.
"What's the worst that can happen here?," Ryan wrote. "Hanley Ramirez turns out to be the next Barry Larkin or maybe even Derek Jeter?"
Four years later, Baseball-Reference lists Jeter as the most statistically comparable player to Ramirez (for his age) in baseball history. Hanley hasn't posted an OPS below .940 since his 2006 Rookie of the Year campaign and this year's NL batting champ has even become an average defender at shortstop, according to UZR.
Hanley wasn't even the only useful player the Marlins acquired. Control issues still trouble Sanchez, who's now 25, but he can strike people out and he pitched well this past season. It all came together for him when he no-hit the Diamondbacks in 2006.
Could the trade have worked out any better for the two clubs? The Marlins got the salary relief they needed and an elite shortstop to build around. Beckett and Lowell led the Red Sox to their second World Championship of the decade.
But that doesn't mean they wouldn't like Hanley back. Theo Epstein has tried to reacquire him before, so it's not hard to imagine a return to Boston.
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Hanley's signed through 2014, but his salary will rise every year - he's about to get too expensive for the Marlins. The Sox are on the right track trying to reacquire him, but at this point, the Sox would need to include Buchholz + 2 top 10 prospects.
Posted by: drphonic7 | November 13, 2009 at 09:21 AM
I think the article isnt inferring enough about the 2007 red sox....they also won it all because they spent 100 million total on dice k, ellsbury coming out of the minors hitting everything...and of course, the best steroid combo of the entire era in papi and manny
Posted by: JobaNation | November 13, 2009 at 09:24 AM
I think the lesson to be learned is go after quality not quanity, so many times we see 4-1 or 3-1 trades where two guys are throw in's so the fan base can feel like they got a better return on the trade. Just worry about getting the best prospect you can not the other trash teams throw in.
Posted by: BabyJesus | November 13, 2009 at 09:39 AM
you cant really say this often with trades, but this trade really was about as close to perfect for both teams as you can get.
The Red Sox got an absolute Ace in Beckett that dominated in 2007 and led us to the title. Lowell played so well that he also won the WS MVP
Florida got a young superstar to sell some seats and merchandise, and arguably is the best all-round player in the game now.
As a Sox fan, even losing Hanely, the trade got us a world title, cant be mad at that
Posted by: 04Forever | November 13, 2009 at 09:51 AM
I find it absolutely hilarious that a yanks fan is diminishing a championship based on money spent and drug allegations. After all the 1999 and 2000 yanks had Knoblauch, Pettitte, and Clemens on their roster.
Things to remember about the 2007 champion Sox. Without Beckett we possibly lose to the Indians in 5 or 6. Lowell also won the WS MVP award after coming up with some big hits that lead to a sweep. Boston got a young ace and gold glove third baseman, Florida got a cheap source of power and Anibal Sanchez who has had success. All in all, very fair deal. Both teams gave up something special and in return got something special.
Posted by: start_wearing_purple | November 13, 2009 at 09:57 AM
Joba, are you serious bringing up Dice K right now?
The 100 million for Dice K includes money that he is still earning. Aka it's 100 million over the entire life of his contract (50 millionish to sign him, then a 52 millionish contract over 6 years).
If you're going to say we spent 100 million, then you have to say that the 2009 Yankees spent 428 million this offseason on three major players.
If you want to talk one year hits (aka what did Dice K do to the Sox in 2007), then Dice K cost the 51 mil to sign him plus 8.5 million for his first year. About 60 million.
Your new boys this year? 20 (Tex) + 16.5 (Burnett) + 14 (CC) + 14 (Tex and CC's signing bonuses) = about 64.5 million.
Similar over one year. But then you still have a whopping ~350 million due over the next 7 years. We've got another 26 million due to Dice K at this point. So...a little bit different.
Posted by: McGrifftheCrimeDog | November 13, 2009 at 10:00 AM
How exactly is Hanley going to get too expensive for the Marlins? They're the ones who signed him to that long-term extension. That extension was also signed at the old Orange Bowl site, which is where the new stadium is being built. It was the first sign that the fish were willing and able to retain their stars.
As mentioned, they have the new stadium opening up in 2012 which means the revenue streams will be in place to finally field a club with a median payroll. Trading Hanley prior to the stadium opening up would be an absolute public relations disaster and something that I'm sure MLB wouldn't be too pleased about.
They've come out publicly and said one of their top priorities is to lock up Josh Johnson to a long-term extension as well. They are in a good financial position now. These trades the past two years were of very little significance. Willingham, Olsen, Jacobs, Hermida and probably now Uggla are not superstars. They have 2 bonafide studs on their roster...Hanley and J.J. They've locked up one and now want to lock up the other.
The days of the Marlins simply gutting the squad of their superstars is over.
Posted by: mbono | November 13, 2009 at 10:30 AM
jobanation, speaking of steroids, how are A-Roid, Pettitte, Giambi, Sheffield, and Clemens related? They are all proven juicers who played on the Yankee's. Now grow up and continue worshipping the most overated pitcher in the game that you are named after!
Posted by: RED SOX DYNASTY! | November 13, 2009 at 10:38 AM
"The days of the Marlins simply gutting the squad of their superstars is over."
The phrase 'I'll believe it when I see it' comes to mind.
Posted by: start_wearing_purple | November 13, 2009 at 10:39 AM
Well, the last time you saw them unload their superstars was after the '07 season. Losing Cabrera was obviously tough, but as it turns out losing Dontrelle wasn't. At that time the stadium was yet to be approved, so there was no reason for them to deviate from their SOP.
Skepticism is fair at this point, but when considering everything they have coming, in terms of revenue streams, trading away Hanley is illogical.
Posted by: mbono | November 13, 2009 at 10:47 AM
probably one of the most even trades ever made.
Posted by: Yankees10 | November 13, 2009 at 10:53 AM
I'll admit, seeing what Hanley has accomplished in Fla makes me sick, especially seeing the riff-raff that's been at SS for the last 3 years. But Beckett is a stud. Here's the thing: Hanley will continue to bash in Fla (if he's not traded) for the next few years and seeing that Lowell is probably done in Boston after 2009, resigning Beckett is so vital right now, or else the trade was only a short-term benefit for the Sox.
LMAO Jobanation, you're a toolbag. Mcgriff, nice breakdown.
Posted by: CTSoxfanin | November 13, 2009 at 11:01 AM
Jobanation was complementing the Red Sox. Sure the Yanks were stacked with juicers but the Red Sox had the best 1-2 juicer combo ever - Ramirez and Ortiz.
Don't be ashamed - be proud.
As for his comments about buying a team ... that was priceless. Literally ANY OTHER fan for ANY OTHER team could gripe about that. But leave it to a Yankee fan to whine about "buying" a WS.
Posted by: bjsguess | November 13, 2009 at 12:24 PM
I think this is the trade of the Century.
Richie Sexon + Shane Nance + Noochie Varner
for
Junior Spivey + Craig Counsell + Lyle Overbay + Chad Moeller + Chris Capuano + Jorge de la Rosa.
All of which played a huge role in turnign the Brewers from a boddem feeder to a Contender
Posted by: brewsers | November 13, 2009 at 12:30 PM
This trade is only even because Hanley panned out. Imagine if he never reached the level he is at now. I hope the Marlins retain him, I enjoy watching him play even if he is always tearing up Mets pitching. Salaries and cap room are ruining the game of baseball, c'mon Bud you gotta do something about this. I have nothing against the Red Sox but they better never have Hanley Ramirez on their team again. That would be the epitome of unfairness, that they could trade away their young talent only to reacquire it after they have proved on another team that they are an allstar.
Posted by: MetsvilleSlugger | November 13, 2009 at 02:17 PM
"
I think this is the trade of the Century.
Richie Sexon + Shane Nance + Noochie Varner
for
Junior Spivey + Craig Counsell + Lyle Overbay + Chad Moeller + Chris Capuano + Jorge de la Rosa.
All of which played a huge role in turnign the Brewers from a boddem feeder to a Contender"
Biased much? haha. Not even close.
Posted by: Darion | November 13, 2009 at 03:28 PM
mbono: "As mentioned, they have the new stadium opening up in 2012 which means the revenue streams will be in place to finally field a club with a median payroll. Trading Hanley prior to the stadium opening up would be an absolute public relations disaster and something that I'm sure MLB wouldn't be too pleased about."
Building a new stadium doesn't mean more fans will come. Every time I saw the Phillies play there on TV, there were like 5,000 people there. That's also a division rival, who also happened to be the defending WS champs at the time. It's a bad fan base in a bad location. The new stadium won't do much (see: new Nationals stadium in it's first year).
Posted by: JPB705 | November 13, 2009 at 04:23 PM
ok all you yankee and sox fans, you guys are the same spending millions of dollars for free agents,
and both you guys have people who pumped roids so yall need to realize you guys are the same and try not to hate on eachother for things you both do
Posted by: Sportfan22 | November 13, 2009 at 04:53 PM
Building a new stadium doesn't mean more fans will come. Every time I saw the Phillies play there on TV, there were like 5,000 people there. That's also a division rival, who also happened to be the defending WS champs at the time. It's a bad fan base in a bad location. The new stadium won't do much (see: new Nationals stadium in it's first year).
Posted by: JPB705 | November 13, 2009 at 04:23 PM
the new stadium is in a good location that fits for the populace. The team also makes more money from the stadium that it doesnt now from advertising, concessions, parking, etc etc etc right now it makes only a portion of the gate period.
As for the people more will be about then.
As for the sox and yankees fans both should stop the pissing contest about whom is filled with more roids, both of your bought championships were filled with them to the limit. So are most of the other teams out there very few teams didnt have them upon there and very few champions specially continously arent filled with bought talent stolen from small market teams for cheap.
Starting game of the world series this year was 2 cleveland pitchers that couldnt be afforded there. Both ortiz and manny were stolen from small market teams, as was thome for the phillies, beltran of the mets, I could go on and on. But that is the way the game is played and the way the game shall continue to be. I would love a 100 million cap and 65 million min, but we would have to have to a strike to get it.
Posted by: Fishfan79 | November 13, 2009 at 04:58 PM
Listening to Red Sox and Yankee fans argue over things like payroll and steroid usage is kinda like reading the comments from SEC fans on ESPN boards arguing over which team has the fewest arrests. I mean, one team has the fewest arrests, sure, but lets face it, every SEC team besides Vanderbilt is loaded with morons and thugs.
Posted by: killak | November 13, 2009 at 05:03 PM
What building a new stadium will definitely get more fans to come. People don't come now because why would you drive 2 hours to see the marlins if there's basically a 50% chance it will get rained out. With the retractible roof the fans won't have to worry.
And the first post on this, it will take A LOT more then that to get Hanley Ramirez. Marlins won't even trade him til about 2013
Posted by: MarlinsFanatic | November 13, 2009 at 05:07 PM
"ok all you yankee and sox fans, you guys are the same spending millions of dollars for free agents,
and both you guys have people who pumped roids so yall need to realize you guys are the same and try not to hate on eachother for things you both do
Posted by: Sportfan22 | November 13, 2009 at 04:53 PM "
QFT, and I'm a fan of one of the teams in question.
Posted by: Jimbo | November 13, 2009 at 05:20 PM
Interesting side note on this trade is that Texas was very close to completing a deal that was centered around Hank Blaylock for Beckett and Lowell. The Rangers would have had Texiera, Arod, Lowell & Beckett on their roster. Maybe the Rangers would have actually won a Playoff round. The Red Sox though came in at the last second and offered up Hanley and the Rangers were out.
Posted by: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=583810945 | November 13, 2009 at 06:18 PM
"As for his comments about buying a team ... that was priceless. Literally ANY OTHER fan for ANY OTHER team could gripe about that. But leave it to a Yankee fan to whine about "buying" a WS."
Maybe he's just upset because the Red Sox title cost so much less?
Posted by: notin | November 13, 2009 at 06:20 PM
FishFan79,
I agree with everyone - the Sox and Yankees spend too much, and it's really annoying and it sucks. I love the Sox, but it's so true, and I cannot deny it.
HOWEVER, you said that Ortiz was stolen from a small market team. Ortiz was RELEASED by the Twins after a decent year, and the Red Sox picked him up for only 300k more. Ortiz was not a sure thing then, the Red Sox took a chance, and it worked out.
Say what you will about every other move that the Red Sox and Yankees made. But Papi was a find originally. A steroid linked find maybe - but the guy was not "stolen" in any way, shape, or form.
Posted by: McGrifftheCrimeDog | November 13, 2009 at 08:36 PM
i was listening to MLB home plate on XM this morning.
One of the hosts said he saw earlier on a website "trades of the decades" and today they were talking about the Hanley/Beckett trade.
I was like, yup, probably MLBTR. As soon as i find a computer, yup there it is.
Good stuff guys! Too bad they didnt mention this actual website though. I just thought it was a cool little story to share.
About this trade. This is about as perfect a trade can ever get.
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