After days of going back and forth, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox reportedly arrived at another agreement on a trade for Mookie Betts and David Price on Sunday afternoon.
The deal doesn’t look the same as it originally did due to the Red Sox being concerned with Minnesota Twins pitching prospect Brusdar Graterol’s medicals. Because of that, the Dodgers have completed separate trades with the Red Sox and Twins.
In the restructured deals, L.A. is now sending Jeter Downs and Connor Wong to Boston along with Alex Verdugo, while the Red Sox will be covering half of Price’s remaining three-year, $96 million contract.
As for their trade with the Twins, it centers around Kenta Maeda and Graterol, whom the Dodgers are now keeping. L.A. is also receiving another prospect in addition to Graterol, per Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports:
The #Twins also are sending a lower prospect besides Graterol to the #Dodgers for Kenta Maeda
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 9, 2020
Furthermore, the Dodgers are additionally netting a pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, while a prospect and cash will go to the Twins, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic:
#Dodgers sending $10M with Maeda and receiving #MNTwins’ Comp B draft pick in 2020, source tells The Athletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 9, 2020
#MNTwins also getting low-level minor leaguer from #Dodgers in addition to Maeda and $10M, source says.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 9, 2020
As for the prospect the Dodgers are receiving, Luke Raley is returning to the organization, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan:
Outfielder Luke Raley is the prospect headed to the Los Angeles Dodgers along with Brusdar Graterol and the 67th pick in the trade that sends Kenta Maeda and $10M cash to Minnesota, a source familiar with the deal tells ESPN. Raley hit .302/.362/.516 at Triple-A last season.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 10, 2020
Raley was included as part of the Dodgers’ trade package for Brian Dozier in 2018.
Maeda had expressed displeasure with the Dodgers organization early in the offseason due to his desire to remain and starter and not be moved to the bullpen every year. So it makes sense that they looked to deal him, and he will now get an opportunity to be a full-time starter with the Twins.
In addition to getting Betts and Price, who will obviously improve the Dodgers in 2020, Graterol also has some Major League experience so should be able to contribute either as a starter or out of the bullpen during the season.
The medical concerns with 21-year-old, who has already undergone Tommy John surgery and dealt with shoulder issues, has the industry largely believing that he will be a reliever long-term. His 100 mph sinking fastball and wipeout slider could make him the Dodgers’ future closer.
Considering how well L.A. has drafted in recent years, getting a compensation pick that will be No. 67 overall this year is also a nice way to replenish the farm system after the loss of Verdugo, Downs and Wong.
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