A months-long quest for the Los Angeles Dodgers to add elite talent to their roster seemingly came to an end Tuesday night with a reported agreement to acquire Mookie Betts and David Price from the Boston Red Sox.
The three-team trade involved the Minnesota Twins, who are poised to receive Kenta Maeda and deal pitching prospect Brusdar Graterol to the Red Sox. Along with Betts and Price, L.A. additionally is receiving cash considerations from Boston to cover approximately half of Price’s remaining contract.
However, the trade has yet to be finalized, and late Wednesday night it was explained the delay stemmed from concern over Graterol’s medicals. As a result, the Red Sox may seek compensation beyond Graterol and Alex Verdugo.
According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, the Twins and Red Sox are working to find a solution, but there’s some concern the trade could come undone:
Red Sox are said to be trying to reconfigure the part of the Betts 3-team deal with the Twins (meaning more than Graterol). While there’s still hope the mega deal gets done in some form, some involved are now suggesting it’s not a certainty.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 7, 2020
However, indications from the Twins are the trade will ultimately be completed, per LaVelle E. Neal III of the Star Tribune:
One Twins official today expressed confidence the deal will go through. https://t.co/OHOTi3NeBQ
— LaVelle E. Neal III (@LaVelleNeal) February 7, 2020
Mark Feinsand of MLB.com also indicated the trade should eventually be finalized:
Source familiar with the three-way Boston/Los Angeles/Minnesota trade said the sides are “making progress,” and while a deal isn’t likely to be finalized any earlier than Friday, it’s still “more likely to happen than not.”
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) February 7, 2020
It’s plausible the Red Sox will receive another player(s) in order to appease them, or perhaps not send as much cash to the Dodgers as originally agreed upon. Another solution may be the Dodgers acquiring a prospect from a separate team to include in their trade with the Red Sox.
With teams opening Spring Training camps within the next week, a resolution doesn’t figure to be far off.
For the Dodgers, the trade is also related to an agreement they reached with the L.A. Angels. In that deal, the Dodgers would send Joc Pederson, Ross Stripling and prospect Andy Pages to Anaheim in exchange for Luis Rengifo and one or two Minor Leaguers.
While the Dodgers aren’t likely to move Pederson until finalizing their trade for Betts, it’s also believed Pederson’s arbitration hearing was a factor in the deal with the Angels not being completed.
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