USA TODAY International Edition
Baseball’s blockbuster winter deal
Red Sox trade 2018 MVP Mookie Betts, David Price to Dodgers in three- team deal. Assessing the winners and losers in MLB.
After a night of wheeling and dealing involving seven players, including Mookie Betts and David Price, two trades and four teams, we take a look at the winners and losers.
In Tuesday’s blockbuster deal, the Dodgers acquired Betts and his former Red Sox teammate, left- handed pitcher Price ( along with cash), according to an official with knowledge of the agreement. The official spoke to USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale on the condition of anonymity because the deal was not yet finalized.
Boston gained outfielder Alex Verdugo from Los Angeles and pitching prospect Brusdar Graterol from the Twins, who received starter Kenta Maeda from the Dodgers to complete the deal.
But the trading did not stop there. The Dodgers then sent outfielder Joc Pederson across Los Angeles to the Angels for infielder Luis Rengifo.
WINNERS
Dodgers: Duh. The Dodgers are not only the clear winner of the trade; they won the entire offseason ( although the checking accounts of Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg, Anthony Rendon and Scott Boras would disagree).
The Dodgers were the favorite to win the National League before the deal. Adding the 2018 American League MVP
in Betts and the 2012 AL Cy Young winner in David Price gives them hope of improving upon their 106- win total from a year ago. A possible iteration of the opening- day lineup:
1 Mookie Betts, RF
2 Corey Seager, SS
3 Justin Turner, 3B
4 Cody Bellinger, CF
5 Max Muncy, 1B
6 AJ Pollock, LF
7 Gavin Lux, 2B
8 Will Smith, C
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has gone for it all before – adding Yu Darvish in 2017 and Manny Machado the next year. Both of those deals occurred in the middle of the season, and both times the Dodgers fell short in the World Series. Amid a 31- season championship drought, the mandate is clear once more: World Series or bust.
Betts/ Price: Betts has indicated he planned on testing free agency, hastening Boston’s desire to move him. He’ll lead off for the best lineup in the game during a walk year, and if all goes well, the 27- year- old could be in position for the game’s second $ 400 million- plus contract.
As for Price, maybe a change of scenery can do wonders for his left arm. For the first time in his career, the 34- yearold will be pitching in the NL. Price hasn’t thrown more than 176 innings since 2016 ( averaging 119 over the last three seasons). Plus, the Dodgers won’t be on the hook for Price’s full salary ( owed $ 96 million over the next three years).
Kenta Maeda/ Twins: As the Minnesota brain trust of Derek Falvey and Thad Levine likely realized during last year’s AL division series, trotting out a parade of relievers against the Yankees in the postseason isn’t going to cut it. The Twins struck out in the free agent pitching market but finally connected by adding an established right- hander with postseason experience.
This is a victory for Maeda because, given the Dodgers’ depth of arms, Los Angeles often transferred him to the injured list for a quick stint or to the bullpen. He will have a chance to pitch every five days, without the threat of random roster machinations.
Hollywood baseball: The 2019 NL MVP ( Bellinger), 2018 AL MVP ( Betts) and 2019 AL MVP ( Mike Trout) are all playing in Los Angeles. Rendon is there too. Clayton Kershaw and Albert Pujols are older but remain veteran presences in the city.
For a town of stars, Los Angeles baseball has plenty of appeal heading into 2020.
Joc Pederson: His name had been floated in trade talks previously, and moving him became necessary with the newest Dodgers’ logjam in the outfield. The Angels benefit in adding a powerful left- handed bat to an outfield group including Trout ( righty), veteran Justin Upton ( righty) and highly touted prospect Jo Adell ( righty).
LOSERS
Red Sox: Oh, how the mighty can fall sometimes. The Red Sox defeated the Dodgers in five games in the 2018 World Series but took a step back last year. Now, they have no manager and just lost their primary star.
It takes a dramatic shift in philosophy – and a move such as this – to change course, which owner John Henry advocated for and new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom executed. The one benefit is that the team is now under the luxury tax threshold. But how much will Boston fans really care about a few extra millions lining the pockets of a billionaire?
Operating under the premise of a salary dump, removing Price from the books is necessary. Moving Betts, even potentially losing out on only one season of him, is just too steep a cost.
AL Central/ NL West: Any thoughts of toppling the Twins and Dodgers in their respective divisions just went out the window. It’s a blow for a team like the White Sox, who have a young core and spent in free agency to build a contending roster.
It will take a disaster for the Dodgers not to win their eighth consecutive division crown.