Trade makes Dodgers World Series favorites
It was a trade that began with talks in November, picked up life in January, was agreed upon in principal last week, hit a speed bump days later, but was finally agreed upon Feb. 9, much to the relief of Major League Baseball.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins worked out a new version of the blockbuster deal, according to an official with knowledge of the negotiations.
The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been announced at press time.
Mookie Betts and David Price are going from the Red Sox to the Dodgers, along with $48 million to cover half of what Price is owed over the next three seasons.
The Red Sox are receiving outfielder Alex Verdugo, infield prospect Jeter Downs and catching prospect Connor Wong from the Dodgers.
The Twins are getting pitcher Kenta Maeda, prospect Luke Raley and $10 million from the Dodgers.
Twins reliever Brusdar Graterol, whose medical reports prompted this entire hold-up as the Red Sox voiced concerns, is now going to the Dodgers, along with the 67th overall pick in the 2020 draft.
The delay caused anger between the clubs, particularly toward the Red Sox, with agent Scott Boras insisting his client was healthy. Graterol had Tommy John surgery in 2016 and missed two months with shoulder issues in 2019 but was throwing 100 mph by the end of the season.
The Red Sox, instead, believed there were legitimate concerns with his physical and wanted the Twins to include another prospect. The Twins refused, requiring the Dodgers to get involved and work out separate deals.
It just took a whole lot longer than anyone could possibly have imagined.
“The events of this last week have unfairly put several players’ lives in a state of limbo,” union chief Tony Clark said last week. “The unethical leaking of medical information as well as the perversion of the salary arbitration process serve as continued reminders that too often players are treated as commodities by those running the game.”
The Dodgers, who have won seven consecutive National League West titles, two pennants in the last three years and 106 regular-season games last season, just got better. Much, much better. Betts is the difference-maker they’ve been missing. You’re talking about a guy who has the second-highest WAR score only to Trout the past four years, with four top-eight MVP finishes, four Gold Gloves, four All-Star selections and a .923 OPS. He might be the greatest player developed by the Red Sox since Ted Williams.
And don’t forget about Price. Just wait until he gets away from those monstrous AL East lineups and steps on the mound at pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium and in the NL West.
You’ll see a completely different pitcher, fortifying a rotation with Walker Buehler, Clayton Kershaw, Julio Urias, Alex Wood and Dustin May.
The Dodgers finally have found the missing pieces to take them to the promised land.
The parade starts in 81⁄2 months.