The Boston Red Sox have traded 2018 MVP, Mookie Betts, and pitcher David Price to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Alex Verdugo. In addition, the Dodgers are sending pitcher Kenta Maeda to the Minnesota Twins for Brusdar Graterol. Graterol will be included in the package being sent to the Red Sox. This trade is pending all players passing a physical.
Betts trade rumors have been swirling all winter long. The right fielder has made it abundantly clear that he won’t be signing an extension anywhere and will test the free-agent market after the 2020 season. Reported by Lou Merloni of WEEI, Boston offered Mookie Betts a 10 year, $300 million contract extension; Betts countered with a 12 year, $420 million proposal. Betts made it clear that he has no intention of signing anything until after the 2020 season.
Conversations about acquiring Betts seemed to be very loose up until this point. It wasn’t until recently that Francisco Lindor appeared to be staying with the Cleveland Indians that the Dodgers got serious.
Red Sox Outlook
The Red Sox 2020 season remains more uncertain than ever after unloading their star player. The presence of Rafael Devers, Xander Bogaerts, and J.D. Martinez won’t leave the offense dry, but the team has a lot of questions moving forward. After the inconsistencies that the pitching staff presented in 2019, nothing seems like a sure thing. Chris Sale has seen a drop in velocity over the past two seasons and struggled with command last season. Nathan Eovaldi hasn’t proven that he can make it through a season without getting hurt. While Eduardo Rodriguez saw a career-year in 2019, he’s certainly no ace. The team looks to be in line to finish behind the New York Yankees, and potentially the Tampa Bay Rays.
Dodgers Outlook
Mookie Betts will now be joining the 2019 National League MVP winner Cody Bellinger, Justin Turner, Clayton Kershaw, and Walker Buehler. The Dodgers have won seven straight National League Western Divison Championships and have lost the World Series in 2017 and 2018. To say the are looking to win the World Series now is an understatement.
Despite the number of good young players the Dodgers have both in the majors and on the farm, the time to finish the job is now. This trade would once again make the Dodgers the odds on favorite to win the National League Pennant. Let’s see if the Dodgers can get the job done in 2020.
