It's basically the same deal the Yanks gave AJ Burnett.
AJ isn't the #1 on NY though.
True but I think Beckett is better than Burnett and I think we both agree that Lester is the real "ace" of the Red Sox staff and that CC is better than all of them.
This is how I see the top 5 Red Sox/Yankee pitchers:
1. CC
2. Lester
3. Beckett
4. Lackey
5. Burnett
I don't believe AJ is even really NY's #2, although he rotation wise.
Petit is the better big game pitcher.
The difference between NY and Boston's staff is really not there, I give it mulligan on whether either staff is better, Boston has some real questions marks at 4 and 5 (aging knucklballer & injured walk machine) whereas NY has a top guy at #4 and a virtually untried kid at #5.
Bullpens are basically the same also, so it comes down to hitting and defense, so NY gets the edge in both, the bottom of Boston's BO could be a disaster with the oft injured Drew, a light hitting 3B Beltre, Cameron and his strikeouts and good ol Marco Scutaro.
Let's look postion by postion:
1B Tex Vs Youk
Edge NY: Better power hitter, switch hitter and gold glover vs better hitter for average and good defense
2B Cano Vs Pedroia
Edge Even: Both can field, both can flat out hit, Pedroia the better clutch hitter, cano the better power hitter
SS Jeets Vs Marco
Edge NY: Hall of famer beats out journeyman, not close
3B Arod Vs Beltre
Edge NY: Another no brainer, light hitting beltre may be a better fileder then Arod, but not by much, hitting its no contest
Catcher Posada Vs Martinez
Edge NY: Jorge better defensively, is aging but still has good power and hits for average. Martinez is no glove man, liability behind plate
CF Granderson Vs Cameron
Edge NY: 20 year old switch hitter with power vs aging veteran strikout king.
LF Gardner vs Ellsbury
Edge Boston: No brainer, unproven speedster vs veteran .300 hitter speedster
RF Swisher vs Drew
Edge even: If Drew ever stood healthy he would win easily, but that is the ticket, isn't it
DH Johnson vs big Papi
Edge Boston: Even though aging and lower BA, Big Papi still had the long ball and RBIs, oft injured Nick not a power hitter, but will get on base