Prior to free agency moving at a breakneck speed during the annual Winter Meetings, the Los Angeles Dodgers were said to have trade interest in Francisco Lindor, and Mookie Betts was a speculated target as well if he became available.
Both players fit the profile of what Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman described as the type of elite talent the club was looking to add to its roster this offseason. Of course, so too did Gerrit Cole, Anthony Rendon and Stephen Strasburg.
But after each signed with a different team, some of the Dodgers’ focus again shifted to the trade front. That entailed revisiting trade talks with the Cleveland Indians, the discussion of various packages and one of which included Lindor and Mike Clevinger.
They also remained connected to the Boston Red Sox for a potential deal not only involving Betts but David Price as well. Betts is being traded to L.A. and he may be joined by Price, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN:
There could be a third team involved in the deal, as @Ken_Rosenthal reported. Significant cash will be going the way of wherever David Price lands. But the main player, Mookie Betts, will be a Dodger should medicals go as expected.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 5, 2020
According to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports, the San Diego Padres were told Betts and Price were headed to L.A.:
The #Padres have also been told that Mookie Betts and David Price are going to the #Dodgers.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 5, 2020
The trade is also believed to include a third team, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic:
Third, unidentified team is indeed part of #RedSox–#Dodgers blockbuster, sources tell me and @chadjennings22.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 5, 2020
It’s unclear what the Red Sox are receiving in the trade, but Alex Verdugo has been speculated as the centerpiece of their return. Jeter Downs, Josiah Gray and Keibert Ruiz are among the prospects named as possible trade chips.
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