Beckett Available?

Interesting

This is my first Fanpost ever, so forgive me if I screwed something up.

The Sox have a asset whose perceived value, due to his postseason success and reputation as an ace, is higher than his actual value. In four AL seasons Beckett has an ERA of 4.05, and while you can attribute some of that to his competitive environment and some to defense—Beckett's peripherals are consistently strong—the idea that he is an ace is overblown. Beckett has three 200-inning seasons in his career and three seasons with an ERA below 3.50; he's done both those things in the same year once, 2007, which is also the only season in which he's garnered Cy Young votes. He'll be 31 years old in 2011. Is any of this sounding familiar? Beckett doesn't look much like John Lackey, but their track records, right down to the Game Seven victories, are freakishly alike. The Lackey contract set the market for Beckett, and the Sox, already paying Matsuzaka and having more pitching than hitting at both the major- and minor-league levels, don't need two guys like that.

The Rangers have been admiring Beckett, a Texan, for years, and they have prospects coming out of their ears. There are all kinds of places to send Beckett and get good value for his services, and the Sox can take the hit; the gap between Beckett and what they'll get from Tazawa, Bowden and a mid-season trade replacement is likely to be less than $12 million and the package they'll be able to get for Beckett.

 

Although I agree that Beckett's perceived value exceeds his actual value, I still believe he would fit nicely in our rotation, and was wondering if you guys felt the same way?  What would you be willing to give up?  What do you think it would take?  I know this is wishful thinking, but I was bored and daydreaming...thoughts?