Five bold MLB trades that can transform a franchise

Five Transformative MLB Trades

Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox

Boston Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts has earned the reputation of Mike Trout adjacent in some circles. The 2018 AL MVP can do it all and in true 5-tool fashion he has proven to be perfectly capable of hitting for power and for average, he can steal bags, and is an above-average fielder with a decent arm.

The 2020 season will be Betts’ final year of arbitration eligibility and it’s no secret that Mookie wants Trout money. Because of this, the Red Sox are most certainly unable to meet Mookie’s needs. This is why it is likely that the organization will look to move Betts.

In doing so, they’d be killing two birds with one stone since many teams will be looking to acquire one of baseball’s best players. First, they’d be cutting salary and second, they’d likely acquire a slew of top prospects in return.

So, who would be some suitors for Mookie Betts? To make this determination we need to find (A) a team willing to spend north of $30M AAV for Betts and (B) have multiple top-level prospects in their farm system.

Realistic MLB Trades

• San Diego Padres – Last offseason, the Pads added third baseman Manny Machado to the mix, giving him a 10-year, $300M deal in free agency. Later on, they called up Fernando Tatis Jr., who turned out to be perhaps the best rookie player in baseball. How insane would it be if they follow up a season like that by adding Mookie Betts? They have the money — only $92M committed in salary next season — and the prospects to whet the Red Sox’s appetite, headed by LHP MacKenzie Gore.

• San Francisco Giants – All season the Giants have lacked outfield help. Given that they only have $111M committed in salary next season, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that they would make a deal to acquire Betts. The problem is, their farm system lacks depth and the roster, aside for perhaps, closer Will Smith just doesn’t strike any confidence in teams.