What appeared to be a blockbuster trade is now on the verge of collapsing as the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins were unable to get over an impasse, leaving the Los Angeles Dodgers hanging in the balance.
Less than a week ago the Dodgers were poised to acquire Mookie Betts, David Price and cash considerations. They were parting with Kenta Maeda (Twins) and Alex Verdugo (Red Sox) as part of the three-team trade.
The initial expectation was the Twins and Red Sox would come to an agreement on additional compensation to Brusdar Graterol, but Minnesota set a deadline and now are not expected to be part of the deal.
Even as the saga carries on, there was a belief the Dodgers and Red Sox would manage to piece a trade back together, according to Alex Speier of The Boston Globe:
Two sources familiar with negotiations still believed it was more likely than not that a deal involving at least the Sox and Dodgers will still get done.
That’s since grown to a reasonable expectation the Dodgers, Twins and Red Sox are working toward reviving their three-team trade, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network:
Hear there’s progress in the Mookie talks. Sides seem hopeful. #Dodgers #RedSox #MNTwins
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 9, 2020
If the deal does come undone and the Red Sox no longer receive a pitching prospect from the Twins, the Dodgers may need to include one or two more players in order to make up for Graterol’s void. Or Boston could change how much cash they were sending L.A. (roughly half of Price’s remaining $96 million salary).
Another alternative would be for the Dodgers and Red Sox to find a new third team. Both L.A. and Boston have plenty of motivation to complete a deal, but that may not be enough to push it across the finish line.
With that possibility, the Red Sox reportedly have already fielded calls from other clubs inquiring on Betts. Though it’s believed they have a focus on trading with the Dodgers.
However it ultimately shakes out, the MLB Players Association figures to once again address the situation. “The proposed trades between the Dodgers, Red Sox, Twins, and Angels need to be resolved without further delay,” MLBPA Tony Clark said in the statement before the Twins withdrew.
“The events of this last week have unfairly put several Players’ lives in a state of limbo. 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.”
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