Boston Red Sox: 50 greatest players of all-time

BOSTON, MA - JUNE 23: The number of former Boston Red Sox player David Ortiz #34 is retired during a ceremony before a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Fenway Park on June 23, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JUNE 23: The number of former Boston Red Sox player David Ortiz #34 is retired during a ceremony before a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Fenway Park on June 23, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
27 of 50
Josh Beckett, Boston Red Sox
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Josh Beckett was already a World Series MVP by the time the Red Sox acquired the right-hander along with Mike Lowell and Guillermo Mota from the Florida Marlins for a package of prospects including Hanley Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez, Jesus Delgado and Harvey Garcia in November 2005.

Beckett responded with the best season of his career and was even better in 2007.

He led the American League with 20 wins, earned his first All-Star appearance and finished runner-up to CC Sabathia of the Cleveland Indians in the Cy Young voting while helping the Red Sox to their second World Series title in four years.

After an up-and-down 2008, Beckett returned to All-Star form in 2009 and again in 2011, with an injury-shortened 2010 in between, but struggled mightily in 2012 before he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a massive nine-player post-waiver deadline deal in August of that year.

The Red Sox shed Beckett, Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez in the trade, as well as Nick Punto, and got back some young talent in return including Rubby De La Rosa, Ivan De Jesus, Allen Webster, James Loney and Jerry Sands.

In parts of seven seasons with the Red Sox, Beckett was 89-58 with a 4.17 ERA and 1.223 WHIP, a 109 ERA+ and 1,108 strikeouts in 1,240 innings. He made 194 starts for Boston.

In three postseasons, Beckett was 5-1 in eight starts with a 3.94 ERA and 1.093 WHIP, fanning 52 in 50 innings.

He threw a four-hit shutout top open a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels in the 2007 ALDS and was MVP of the ALCS victory over the Indians by going 2-0 in two starts, striking out 18 in 14 innings while allowing just three runs on nine hits.

With the Marlins, Beckett was the World Series MVP in 2003. He pitched with the Dodgers through the 2014 season, opting not to sign anywhere after is contract expired.

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