Mookie Betts Trade Held up Over Medical Review
The blockbuster three-team trade between the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Minnesota Twins that included Mookie Betts has been held up due to questions regarding the health of one player involved in the deal.
Here’s how the trade looked before the medical reviews got in the way:
- Dodgers get: Mookie Betts, David Price, cash (all from Boston)
- Red Sox get: Alex Verdugo (from Dodgers), Brusdar Graterol (from Twins)
- Twins get: Kenta Maeda (from Dodgers)
The Player of Concern
The player of concern is Twins pitching prospect Brusdar Graterol. After reviewing Graterol’s medical records, Boston projects the right-hander as more of a reliever than a starter. As a result, the Red Sox “might ask for an additional player and/or money to bridge the gap.” Although “it is unclear whether the player would come from the Twins or Dodgers,” according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Graterol made 10 relief appearances with Minnesota in 2019. He compiled a 1-1 record and 4.66 ERA in 9.2 innings. His future health is a concern, as he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2015 and missed more than two months last season with a right shoulder impingement.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that the teams “could theoretically opt for a two-team deal or involve a different third team.” But according to Passan, the chances of the trade completely breaking down is “slim.” And according to sources involved in the deal, it “is a problem but one we can figure out.”
Holding Up Another Trade
This three-team deal is holding up a trade between the Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels. The Dodgers have agreed to send outfielder Joc Pederson, starter Ross Stripling, and prospect Andy Pages to the Angels for infielder Luis Rengifo and a prospect. By trading Pederson, the Dodgers would remain underneath the $208 million luxury-tax threshold.
But all of this hinges on the three teams working out a resolution to the current dilemma.
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