The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Boston Red Sox had agreed upon a blockbuster to send outfielder Mookie Betts and David Price to L.A. in a three-team trade with the Minnesota Twins, according to multiple reports.
But that mega-deal fell apart this weekend, per multiple reports.
The Red Sox received the medical documentation for Twins right-hander Brusdar Graterol and Dodgers outfielder Alex Verdugo, the two players Boston acquired in the deal. But the Sox weren’t pleased, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. Graterol’s medical records caused Boston to view him as more of a reliever than a starter, which meant his value wasn’t quite what the Sox had hoped (even if reports indicate Boston shouldn’t have been surprised with these findings).
This complication comes while Boston media and fans have skewered the organization for the move. The Red Sox bailed on Betts, the 2018 MVP, and Price in a transparent effort to get below MLB’s luxury-tax threshold to get back to the minimum penalty rate.
The three teams are still interested in getting the deal done, per Rosenthal. The Sox, however, seem less interested in completing the deal than before — perhaps because the court of public opinion has shifted the ownership group’s view on the trade. Their hesitance surrounding Graterol nearly pushed the Twins out of the deal entirely, per a report from the Star Tribune on Saturday. On Sunday, however, the three teams still seem to be in communication.
As @JonHeyman reported, progress today in three-team Betts blockbuster – and yes, #MNTwins still involved, source says.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 9, 2020
So how might the deal change? Here’s what reporters are saying.
In one proposed scenario Twins and Dodgers make their own deal involving Maeda and a Graterol with Graterol possibly sticking with LA. Non-Boston docs seem to have no big issue with Graterol meds.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 9, 2020
In current talks, #MNTwins are working hard to satisfy #Dodgers and the Dodgers are working hard to satisfy #RedSox, sources say. Two separate deals are possible (for example, Graterol-plus for Maeda and Verdugo and others for Betts/Price). But all three teams involved in talks.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 9, 2020
It seems this trade has practically reverted back to square one. The Dodgers may need to find a new third team to appease the Red Sox’s demands for elite prospects (and, apparently, one who is a starter). Or perhaps L.A. and Minnesota can find a way to amass enough talent to appease Boston.
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