Boston Red Sox Reportedly Place Josh Beckett on Trade Waivers

Josh Beckett is the next Boston Red Sox player to be placed on trade waivers, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman.

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Josh Beckett is on trade waivers now. Competing execs don't expect him to be claimed. #redsox

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) August 23, 2012"

Beckett has been about as bad as bad gets this season, pitching in Boston’s starting rotation. In 21 starts this season, Beckett is 5-11 with a 5.23 ERA. His command has been off the entire year and he doesn’t seem to have that magic stroke that he once had.

As Heyman tweets, Beckett will most likely clear waivers. This is both a good and bad thing for the Red Sox. It’s good because Boston can then make a deal without anyone interfering after he clears. They won’t have to negotiate with a team they don’t feel they can get fair value for. On the other hand, clearing waivers is bad because it may mean that no team is interested in the struggling right-hander.

Teams may not have a ton of interest in Beckett, primarily because of his large remaining contract. He’s owed $15.75 million in each of the next two seasons, which is a ton for a guy who is being paid over $3 million per win this season.

Whether Beckett gets claimed or goes unclaimed, the Red Sox have to act on him. He cannot start next season in a Boston Red Sox uniform and everyone knows it. He’s been a part of too much drama in order to pitch in Boston in 2013 or beyond that.

Beckett has been a major part of the dysfunction in the clubhouse this season, whether it goes back to the beer and chicken fiasco last season or just the fact that he can’t handle the pressure here anymore. He’s refused to talk to reporters on several occasions after poor starts this year and also has had trouble staying healthy.

Beckett is the definition of a clubhouse cancer and the first step at fixing this major problem is placing him on trade waivers. Good luck to GM Ben Cherington as we can only hope he gets rid of him.