Two days before Tuesday's trading deadline, all appeared quiet on the Red Sox front, although one major league executive insisted Sunday night that the team is looking for a buyer for starting pitcher Josh Beckett. "They're trying to dump him," the executive said, "but I don't think anyone would touch him without a big discount." Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington downplayed the possibility of the team trading Beckett on Friday in an interview with Boston sports radio station WEEI. "Taking Josh Beckett off this team is not necessarily improving things," Cherington said. "We need to add, we need to improve the rotation, if anything -- improve internally or add to the rotation. I think we're sort of stuck in neutral if we start taking guys out of the rotation that are good major league pitchers." Read more: "They're trying to dump him," the executive said, "but I don't think anyone would touch him without a big discount." Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington downplayed the possibility of the team trading Beckett on Friday in an interview with Boston sports radio station WEEI. "Taking Josh Beckett off this team is not necessarily improving things," Cherington said. "We need to add, we need to improve the rotation, if anything -- improve internally or add to the rotation. I think we're sort of stuck in neutral if we start taking guys out of the rotation that are good major league pitchers."
