BOSTON -- Pending a physical and medical clearance, the Red Sox are set to obtain pitcher Josh Beckett from the Florida Marlins, along with veteran third baseman Mike Lowell. The price for the two is high, however, requiring the Sox to part with phenom infielder Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez, thought by many to be the organization's third-best starting pitcher prospect.

The Red Sox had to outmanuever and outbid the Texas Rangers for Beckett, the clear prize in the deal. The Rangers had proposed a trade that featured All-Star third baseman Hank Blalock and a top pitching prospect for Beckett and Lowell.

But the Marlins preferred the Red Sox' package, in part because they can control Ramirez and Sanchez for longer. Florida, which is gutting its payroll, had intended to deal Blalock elsewhere for prospects.

Instead, the Marlins get Ramirez, who may step in at shortstop as early as next season. Sanchez is thought to be at least a year away from contributing at the big-league level. The Sox are also obligated to include another minor league pitcher to be named later.

In Beckett, the Sox get a potential front-line starter who is just 25 and whom they can control for at least the next two seasons. Beckett is unsigned for next season and 2007 and is eligible for salary arbitration.

It was unclear last night whether the Sox had intended to try to get Beckett signed to a contract extension. If Becket were to go to arbitration, it's likely he could earn as much as $4.5 million for 2006.

Beckett, who was 15-8 last season with a 3.38 E.R.A., has had a career-long battle with finger blisters, making it difficult for him to throw his breaking ball with any consistency. He also missed part of the final month of the 2005 season with shoulder soreness, though it's thought that was mostly ascribed to tendinitis.

His first four seasons have shown him to be somewhat fragile. Until this season, Beckett had never made more than 26 starts in a single year and had never pitched more than 157 2/3 innings.

There also have been questions about his makeup and work ethic. In particular, he's been known to lose his composure on the mound at times.

Surely, the Red Sox noted his postseason debut, however, when he was named the 2003 World Series MVP, helping the Marlins defeat the New York Yankees. He pitched the clinching Game Six on three days' rest and earned his second win of the series.

Beckett's fastball can reach 97 mph and his big overhand curveball is among the best in the game. If he makes good on his potential, he could give the Sox a No. 1 starter assCurt Schillingswinds down his career.

Lowell is something of an albatross in the deal, since he's scheduled to make $18 million over the next two seasons. Lowell had a miserable 2005 season, hitting just eight homers with 58 RBI while hitting a mere .236. In the previous five seasons, Lowell had averaged 24 homers and 94 RBI.

A former All-Star, Lowell is considered an above-average defender at third -- he won the National League Gold Glove at the position in 2005 -- though there are questions about his bat and declining production. The Marlins insisted that he be part of any deal -- as they had in July when they shopped A.J. Burnett, now a free agent -- as a means of reducing their payroll.

The Marlins have been trying without success for several years to secure funding for a new ballpark, and in the absence of one, are slashing their payroll. The Marlins also need to free up money in order to sign Dontrelle Willis to a contract extension.

One major league general manager speculated last night that the Red Sox may be planning to move Lowell to another team while agreeing to pay part of his remaining salary. Another baseball executive familiar with the Red Sox' thinking insisted last night that the Sox didn't have a deal in place to flip Lowell elsewhere.

His presence could otherwise block the progress of Kevin Youkilis, who had been penciled in as Bill Mueller's replacement at third. If Lowell isn't dealt, Youkilis could still compete for playing time at first base, where another vacancy exists.

Lowell, who is Cuban and battled cancer several years ago, is known to be a favorite of Red Sox principal owner John Henry, who was the majority owner of the Marlins before buying the Red Sox four years ago.

If there's a surprise to the deal, it's the Red Sox' willingness to part with two of their top five prospects. Under former general manager Theo Epstein, the organization had jealously guarded its prospects, declining to include them at the July 31 deadline for pitching help.

But with veteransEdgar Renteriasunder contract for three more seasons at shortstop, Ramirez would have been forced to switch positions.

Sanchez, who finished the season at Double A Portland, while highly-regarded, was ranked behind Jonathan Papelbon and lefty Jon Lester in the Sox' organization.