As what’s been a relatively quiet offseason winds to a close, the Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly remain engaged with the Boston Red Sox for a potential Mookie Betts trade. The San Diego Padres are said to be involved in talks with the Red Sox as well.
Boston appears determined to get below the luxury tax threshold for the 2020 season, and thus have shopped Betts. Trade talks have also expanded to include David Price in certain scenarios.
The 34-year-old has three years and $96 million remaining on his contract. Nathan Eovaldi has also been speculated as a possible high-priced player that would be packaged with Betts, who is due to become a free agent after the season.
As the Dodgers and Red Sox reportedly work toward completing a Betts trade, the scenarios being discussed have included Price. However, the teams are in disagreement over how Price’s remaining salary would be split, according to ESPN’s Patrick Creighton:
Per sources: sticking point in #RedSox #Dodgers deal for Mookie Betts right now is how much of David Price’s deal (3/$96m) LA will absorb
Boston wants LA to take all of it. Dodgers haggling, trying to get Boston to pay a part.
They believe two sides will get it worked out.
— PCreight (@PCreighton1) February 1, 2020
It was previously reported the Red Sox were seeking elite prospects and a team that would take on most, if not all, of Price’s contract as part of a Betts trade. More recently, Boston was said to covet a Major League outfielder, which in terms of the Dodgers could be Alex Verdugo.
In theory, if the Dodgers agreed to pay the bulk of Price’s contract, it would reduce the prospect capital included in the trade. L.A. certainly has the financial flexibility to make such a commitment.
That presumably shouldn’t be much of a hurdle for the Dodgers considering they are believed to still be against possibly trading Gavin Lux or Dustin May.
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