Dan Duquette’s best Boston Red Sox trade? Was it Pedro Martinez deal? Or Jason Varitek, Derek Lowe for Heathcliff Slocumb?

Dan Duquette made two of the top trades in Boston Red Sox history when he served as GM from 1994-2002.

The 63-year-old Dalton, Mass., native is being inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame tonight along with David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Rich Gedman and the late Bill Dinneen.

Duquette’s signature trade often is considered his July 31, 1997 deal, when he acquired Derek Lowe and Jason Varitek from the Mariners for Heathcliff Slocumb.

His other heist: He acquired Pedro Martinez — who had just won the 1997 NL Cy Young — from the Expos for Carl Pavano and a player to be named later (Tony Armas) on Nov. 18, 1997.

Which trade does he think was his best?

“I like them both,” Duquette said. “The Pedro Martinez trade is the one you dream about making. The Cy Young award winner in the opposite league and you can acquire him for minor leaguers. That’s the trade you dream about making.”

Martinez won two AL Cy Young awards for Boston, led the Sox to the 2004 World Series and posted a 2.52 ERA in 203 outings (201 starts) from 1998-2004.

Varitek caught 15 seasons for Boston, won two World Series titles and made three All-Star Games. He was a Gold Glover and Silver Slugger winner in 2005.

Lowe, a two-time All-Star for Boston, was the winning pitcher in the clinching games of the ALDS, ALCS and World Series in 2004.

“The other trade for Lowe and Varitek, that was a very powerful trade because you got two building blocks that were with you for a long period of time,” Duquette said. “Derek Lowe, Red Sox Hall of Famer, never spent a day on the disabled list in his entire career. So you’d be hard-pressed to find a guy that’s that reliable. And Jason Varitek, he’s still helping the club win ball games.”

Varitek serves on Boston’s coaching staff as game-planning coordinator and catching coach.

“He took all his acumen as a catcher, as a leader, and he applies it to game planning now,” Duquette said. “So he can manage whenever he wants to.”

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