On Feb. 4, 2020, the Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to a three-team trade with the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins to acquire Mookie Betts and David Price. In a separate trade, the Dodgers were poised to send Joc Pederson and Ross Stripling to the L.A. Angels.
Of course, this day in Dodgers history wound up marking the start of a whirlwind period. Boston’s return of Alex Verdugo and Brusdar Graterol earned them criticism, and that reportedly led to the Red Sox re-visiting the agreement.
Though, they claimed to do so as a result of having concern over Graterol’s medicals and therefore sought additional compensation. Days of uncertainty followed and it ultimately required the Dodgers to complete separate trades with the Twins and Red Sox to overcome the impasse.
L.A. wound up sending Kenta Maeda, Jair Camargo and cash considerations to Minnesota in exchange for Graterol, Luke Raley and the No. 67 pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. They used that selection on right-handed pitcher Clayton Beeter out of Texas Tech.
Having assumed perceived risk with Graterol, the Dodgers revised their trade for Betts and Price by sending Verdugo, Jeter Downs and Connor Wong to the Red Sox. Boston included cash considerations to help pay for Price’s remaining $96 million salary at the time.
During the days-long process of trying to salvage the three-team trade, the Dodgers saw their reported agreement with the Angels fall apart. Owner Arte Moreno reportedly grew frustrated with the delay and pulled his team out of the deal.
That wound up working in the Dodgers’ favor as Stripling was needed to fill a void in the starting rotation when Price opted out of the 2020 season. But the emergences of Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May ultimately allowed the Dodgers to trade Stripling at the deadline.
Pederson remained with the team throughout the entire season and again provided memorable moments in October. After helping the Dodgers win the World Series, he signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs.
Mookie Betts proud of accomplishing goal
At the time of the trade, Betts was touted as the difference-maker for a Dodgers franchise that was seeking their first World Series since 1988. Manager Dave Roberts, Betts and other players attempted to downplay that pressure by maintaining it would take a team effort.
While that held true, Betts said the expectations and pressure helped motivate him.
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