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Sullivan: Rangers willing to listen on Josh Beckett

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By Adam J. Morris
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April 7, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Josh Beckett (19) pitches d1p against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIRE
April 7, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Josh Beckett (19) pitches d1p against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIRE

T.R. Sullivan is writing that righthanded pitcher Josh Beckett is "being shopped" by the Boston Red Sox, and that the Rangers haven't ruled out trading for Beckett.

I don't know that that is terribly meaningful at this point...the Rangers are in a mode right now where there is very little that they would likely rule out. However, Beckett has been disappointing this season:

W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP
2012 - Josh Beckett 5-9 17 17 0 0 0 0 108.1 109 56 55 9 29 82 4.57 1.27

There are also various questions that have been raised about Beckett's attitude, work ethic, etc., as he has been lumped in with the "fried chicken and beer" component that has been blamed, rightly or wrongly, for some of Boston's problems and their ultimate collapse last season.

Beckett is owed $15.75 million for 2013 and 2014, as well as being owed the pro-rated portion of his 2012 salary of $15.75 million. I can't imagine the Rangers would be willing to just to absorb that figure without Boston kicking in a significant amount of cash.

There's also the issue that Beckett has 10/5 rights, and thus can veto any trade, although Boston is apparently talking to the Rangers because they think Texas is a team Beckett would accept a trade to.

The reality is that Beckett probably isn't going anywhere. Its a possibility that he's traded, and if he's on the market, the Rangers will be talking to Boston. But I wouldn't expect anything to happen.

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