The most valuable player of Major League Baseball's 2003 World Series has a new one-year contract with the Florida Marlins. Pitcher Josh Beckett avoided arbitration Tuesday by signing a deal worth $2.4 million. He earned $1.5 million last year.
Considered one of Major League Baseball's top young pitchers, the 24-year-old Beckett battled injuries last season and had three separate stints on the disabled list. He posted a 9-9 record with an earned run average of 3.76 in 29 starts overall in 2004.
Beckett enjoyed his greatest success in the 2003 postseason, helping the Marlins to their second championship when he went 2-2 in six games, including a win and loss in two World Series starts against the New York Yankees.
Some information for this report provided by AFP.