Having publicly stated a desire to add elite talent to their roster this offseason, the Los Angeles Dodgers are left to improve via trade in the wake of being passed over by Gerrit Cole, Anthony Rendon and Stephen Strasburg in free agency.
The Dodgers have long been linked to trade speculation involving Cleveland Indians teammates Mike Clevinger and Francisco Lindor, and more recently were said to have discussed scenarios centered around Boston Red Sox All-Star Mookie Betts.
To a lesser extent the Dodgers have also been mentioned in Nolan Arenado trade rumors, though more as a presumed suitor as opposed to likely partner for the Colorado Rockies to possibly complete a deal with.
As the Dodgers and Indians remain at odds over Gavin Lux, talks with the Red Sox have picked up, according to Jon Morosi of MLB.com:
As a result, sources say the Dodgers’ negotiations with the Red Sox about acquiring Mookie Betts have become at least as frequent — and perhaps even more involved — than their talks with the Indians about Lindor.
The Dodgers’ conversations with the Red Sox are said to be more dynamic than the Dodgers-Indians talks, because Boston appears less insistent on Lux. Also, there exists a very real possibility that a Dodgers-Red Sox deal would include multiple players heading to Los Angeles.
The Dodgers have reportedly shopped Corey Seager to the Indians and Red Sox, with only Cleveland having rejected the notion of taking on the shortstop. The Indians instead covet Lux, who the Dodgers have regularly declined to include in trade talks.
A trade for Betts would not only net the Dodgers a high-impact position player, but conceivably could be expanded to include David Price as well. Boston is seeking to get under the luxury tax threshold for the 2020 season, and trading both All-Stars would significantly aid their efforts.
Despite persistent rumblings of Betts being available, there additionally has been an indication the Red Sox don’t feel pressured to move the 27-year-old because of confidence in their ability to re-sign him next winter.
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