While the Los Angeles Dodgers missed out on top free agents this offseason, they have appeared engaged on the trade front for the likes of Mookie Betts and Francisco Lindor.
The Dodgers and Cleveland Indians reportedly held talks involving not only Lindor, but Mike Clevinger as well. But as negotiations with the Indians seemingly stalled, indications were the Dodgers shifted their focus to the Boston Red Sox.
Despite Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom publicly stating Betts was going to remain with the team come Opening Day, a trade is now considered more likely.
According to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Dodgers may have an edge over the San Diego Padres:
Multiple people close to situation believe resolution on Mookie Betts trade is imminent. (Perspective: some of same people believed similarly last week.) FWIW, feeling now is it happens today/tomorrow.
If favorite exists, it seems to be #Dodgers. But #Padres still engaged.— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) February 3, 2020
Per ESPN’s Patrick Creighton, Dodgers prospects Keibert Ruiz and Josiah Gray have also been mentioned in talks:
Sources: #Dodgers #RedSox still working on Price contract as part of Betts deal.
Also: LA pkg of 3 prospects centered around Alex Verdugo. Other names mentioned in talks as potential part of deal include Josiah Gray and Keibert Ruiz.
They believe deal finalized this week
— PCreight (@PCreighton1) February 3, 2020
Both National League West clubs boast a farm system rich in prospects to complete a trade. However, the Padres are said to be proposing the Red Sox taking on Wil Myers’ contract as well.
Meanwhile, Boston themselves have a desire to get under the luxury tax threshold for the 2020 season. As such, it’s believed they have expanded talks with the Dodgers to include David Price. The 34-year-old is owed $96 million over the remaining three years of his deal.
For the Dodgers, reports previously indicated Alex Verdugo and prospect Jeter Downs have been among the names exchanged. Verdugo fits the profile of a Major League outfielder the Red Sox reportedly are seeking, and Downs is one of the Dodgers’ talented prospects.
President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has remained adamant in keeping Gavin Lux and Dustin May out of trade talks. “What we also are trying to do is not trade Walker Buehler for a short-term fix a couple years ago, Cody Bellinger,” he said at Dodgers FanFest.
“There’s a couple guys we’ve kind of set aside and made it really, really difficult for us to trade. A lot of that is a bet on the talent and person. The guys we’ve done that with have been a huge part of our success to this point and will be a huge part of our future success. So it’s tough (to trade them).”
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