Dodgers now have the edge in a potential Mookie Betts trade
By Alex Barth, 985TheSportsHub.com
Day after day, the rumors surrounding a potential Mookie Betts trade seem to intensify. While the Padres have been the public leader to land Mookie for a few weeks, Andy McCullough reports that the Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers are “approaching a resolution” that would send the 2018 AL MVP to Hollywood.
A salary dump involving David Price is also being discussed, according to McCullough. The Red Sox front office has made it known they hope to get under the MLB’s $206 million luxury tax. They are currently $13 million over.
As ESPN’s Buster Olney pointed out, there are a number of reasons the Dodgers and Red Sox are logical trading parters, including the fact that LA’s GM Andrew Friedman was once Chaim Bloom’s boss when the two worked in Tampa Bay.
Worth repeating, as LAD talk with BOS about a possible megadeal: The most significant $ obligation they have in baseball ops is likely to Andrew Friedman, who just signed his new deal. The most they owe any individual player is Kershaw ($46m). Tons of payroll flexibility.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) January 30, 2020
Does the flexibility to sign Betts to a long-term deal mean they’d be likely to part with more to get him? One name that has been brought up as a potential return is Alex Verdugo. The left-handed hitting outfielder appeared in 106 games for the Dodgers in 2019, his first full major league season. The 23-year-old hit .294 with 12 home runs and 44 RBIs. Perhaps most importantly, he has five more years of cost-effective team control.
Ken Rosenthal of MLB on FOX joined MLB Network Thursday morning and called the chances of a trade “higher than ever”.
The #Dodgers & #RedSox have reportedly remained in contact regarding a potential Mookie Betts deal 👀@Ken_Rosenthal | #MLBNHotStove pic.twitter.com/pfgYksa8WA
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 30, 2020
Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Hate mail? Let him hear it on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at [email protected]
