Reports: Twins, Dodgers working on separate deal in attempt to help complete Mookie Betts trade
![](https://985thesportshub.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/88/2018/10/USATSI_11547173.jpg)
Oct 28, 2018; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts (50) celebrates with outfielder Andrew Benintendi (16) after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game five of the 2018 World Series. (Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports)
By Ty Anderson, 985TheSportsHub.com
In the latest development in the mega-trade on hold for nearly a week, the Minnesota Twins are now working with just the Dodgers in an attempt to facilitate the deal that would land Mookie Betts and David Price in Los Angeles, according to multiple reports.
After considering backing out of the deal entirely following Boston’s request for an additional top 10 prospect after receiving suspect medicals on pitcher Brusdar Graterol, the Twins now appear focused on a simple two-team trade that will see Graterol moved to Los Angeles for veteran starter Kenta Maeda.
That’s nothing new if you’re looking at this purely from a Dodgers-Twins perspective, as that was how the Dodgers planned on acquiring Graterol only to flip him to the Red Sox in the first place.
But now it would appear that that deal will happen, but come with the Dodgers keeping the 21-year-old flamethrower and utilizing him as a potential bullpen option. That’s something that the Red Sox, who projected Graterol as a starter long term, did not want to do, and one of the biggest reasons why this deal has been put on hold. (That and the Red Sox ownership group having ‘pause’ on the deal due to the fans and media not exactly being in love with their decision, anyway.)
What this development between the Dodgers and Twins means for the Red Sox, however, remains to be seen as of now.
Twins now dealing directly with Dodgers and that part of mega deal seems pretty set, with Maeda still going to Minnesota and Graterol presumably going to LA. Dodgers are now mostly working with Red Sox to rejigger package for Betts. There’s certainly increased hope. #Mookie
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 9, 2020
It’s fair to assume that the Red Sox are still going to receive outfielder Alex Verdugo from the Dodgers if and when Betts and Price are officially traded to the Dodgers, but that the Dodgers are now going to give more without Minnesota’s help. To complete the deal, the Dodgers could eat more of Price’s contract (they were originally expected to take on half of the $96 million Price is due over the next three years), or they could throw in some more of their prospects. Maybe even both.
But as noted by USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, Boston’s medical team will have a new set of medicals to go over if the Dodgers throw in some more prospects in an effort to officially and finally complete this trade.
What a fun time for all.