Boston gets veteran reliever Guillermo Mota to go along with fireballer Josh Beckett and third baseman Mike Lowell, but also has to throw in another minor league prospect.

01:00 AM EST on Friday, November 25, 2005

BY ART MARTONE
Journal Sports Editor

This time, they didn't wait until the day after Thanksgiving. They did it on Thanksgiving Day itself . . . albeit rather late in the day.

Late last night the Red Sox announced that their deal with the Florida Marlins for ace pitcher Josh Beckett was official. It's the second time in three years the Sox acquired a No. 1 starter over the Thanksgiving holiday; in 2003, they snaredsCurt Schillingsfrom the Diamondbacks in a deal that was finalized on Friday, rather than on Thanksgiving Day.

But the deal had a twist that wasn't included in the original trade, news of which leaked out Monday night. In addition to Beckett and third baseman Mike Lowell, Boston also got some bullpen help in the person of veteran reliever Guillermo Mota. And the Sox, according to the Associated Press, will send minor league right-hander Harvey Garcia to the Marlins in addition to shortstop Hanley Ramirez and pitchers Anibal Sanchez and Jesus Delgado.

The Red Sox will hold a news conference today, and a conference call with the players involved is expected to be arranged, as well.

Red Sox Nation has had four days of anticipation about the acquisition of Beckett, with confirmation of the trade held up pending an examination of Beckett's medical reports. The Sox reportedly had concerns about the shoulder stiffness that prompted Beckett to skip his final two starts after the Marlins had been eliminated from postseason play. Beckett, for his part, insisted he was fine -- an MRI showed no damage -- and said he would have pitched had Florida been alive in the playoff race.

As it turns out, the teams took the additional time to expand the deal slightly. Mota, 32, has played seven seasons in the majors with the Expos, Dodgers and Marlins, and was 2-2 with 2 saves and a 4.70 E.R.A. in 56 games last season. He gives the Sox' thin bullpen some additional depth.

But Beckett is the prize jewel in this package. Former Sox first baseman Kevin Millar, for one, thinks Boston has acquired the standout starter it lacked through the 2005 season.

"This guy is special," Millar told mlb.com of Beckett. (The two were teammates in Florida in 2001-02.) "That's the bottom line. His makeup is special. I think it's a huge addition."

Millar also thinks Lowell -- whose offensive production dipped badly in 2005 -- will help the Sox.

"I think Mikey Lowell will bounce back in a change of scenery and absolutely dominate," Millar told mlb.com, "and I think he's very excited to be a Red Sox."

Beckett agrees with Millar.

"I've been talking to Mikey like every hour," Beckett said in an interview with Joe Amorosino of Channel 5 in Boston. "If we go to Boston next year, Mikey is going to tear it up, mark my words."

One of the players being traded by the Sox, shortstop Hanley Ramirez -- pitchers Anibal Sanchez and Jesus Delgado are the others -- is excited to be going in the opposite direction.

"It's a great opportunity for me," Ramirez told the Miami Herald from his home in the Dominican Republic. "When I go to spring training I have to show what I can do -- every day -- to win the position."

And he loves the city, too.

"Ah, Miami, Miami!" he said with a laugh. "It's beautiful. Very beautiful. There's many Latinos there, and the people are great."

In other Sox news . . .

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports the Red Sox have asked about Brewers first baseman Lyle Overbay, and says a rumor is "circulating" that the Sox are offering right-handersMatt Clementsto Milwaukee. Overbay, who turns 29 in January, hit .276 for the Brewers last year with 19 home runs and 72 runs-batted in, along with a .367 on-base percentage and a .449 slugging percentage. All those numbers except home runs are down from 2004, when Overbay, who bats and throws left, hit .301/.385/.478, with 16 homers and 87 RBI. He earned $446,000 last season but is eligible for arbitration and probably will at least triple his salary in 2006.

The Seattle Times reports that the Mariners aren't interested in Manny Ramirez. The Boston Herald said Ramirez, who has requested a trade from the Red Sox, told the club he would like to go to either the Angels or the Mariners. The Times said the M's are focusing on bolstering their pitching.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that John Farrell, the Indians' director of player development, may interview for the Red Sox' vacant general-manager position. Farrell, 42, pitched in the major leagues from 1987-96 for the Indians, Angels and Tigers. He just finished his fourth season in charge of the team's minor-league player development.

The Kansas City Star said the Red Sox and Mets both have expressed interest in free-agent second basemen Mark Grudzielanek and Tony Graffanino, but both are seeking three-year deals . . . which, according to The Star, has caused the Royals to drop out of the bidding. Graffanino was traded by Kansas City to Boston last July, and became a free agent at the end of the season.