BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Boston Red Sox finally landed a closer for their depleted bullpen tonight, obtaining righthander Rod Beck from the Chicago Cubs.

Beck, a three-time All-Star who had 51 saves last season, was acquired for lefthander Mark Guthrie and a player to be named.

The Red Sox have been without Tom Gordon, who had a major league record string of 54 consecutive saves snapped earlier this season, since June with an elbow injury. Both Derek Lowe and knuckleballer Tim Wakefield have been used as replacements.

"In Rod Beck, we're getting a seasoned, solid, dependable closer," Boston general manager Dan Duquette said.

Wakefield recently was moved back into the starting rotation when Bret Saberhagen went on the disabled list, and Lowe has excelled in his second chance, collecting three wins and four saves in his last seven outings.

"Obviously, Rod Beck gives us some depth in our bullpen. From what I have heard, his arm strenghth is very good," manager Jimy Williams said. "Maybe we'll use him as a setup guy to start with so that maybe he can grow into that closer's role and help us in the final month."

The Red Sox (74-58) lead the American League wild card race by two games over the Oakland Athletics.

Beck, 31, made 31 relief appearances for the Cubs this year and was 2-4 with seven saves and a 7.80 ERA. He was on the DL for more than two months after undergoing surgery May 22 to have a bone spur and chips removed from his pitching elbow.

In 15 games since returning from the disabled list, Beck surrendered 10 earned runs in 16.1 innings. He pitched six scoreless innings over his final four outings for the Cubs.

"Our scouts have been watching him very closely, particularly over the last two weeks," Duquette said. "We feel he has regained the arm strength and the command and the stuff that made him one of the premier relief pitchers in the National league last year."

Beck joined the Cubs as a free agent on January 15, 1998, after spending his first seven big league seasons with San Francisco. In 528 major league games -- all in relief -- he has 257 saves, a 26-36 record and a 3.23 ERA.

Beck was 58-for-69 in save situations with the Cubs, and his 51 saves last year were the second-highest single-season total in club history. He has 239 saves since 1993, second in the majors behind John Wetteland (251).

Guthrie, 33, was 1-1 with a 5.83 ERA in 46 relief appearances for Boston. He has pitched for Minnesota, Los Angeles and the Red Sox during 10-plus seasons. Guthrie has appeared in 491 games, including 43 starts, and is 35-38 with 12 saves and a 4.14 ERA.

He was a member of Minnesota's World Series title team in 1991.

The Cubs are last in the National League Central with a 54-76 record.