Dodgers: An intriguing Betts trade scenario that benefits both sides

I believe the reasons that the Los Angeles Dodgers complete the trade are simple.

First, the Dodgers didn’t have to give up any of their treasured pieces–Gavin Lux, Dustin May, or Alex Verdugo— and they get to have a top ten player in the game.

The Dodgers have been in conversations with the Cleveland Indians on Francisco Lindor, but they are essentially saying that Gavin Lux is virtually untouchable. Well, I would think that the Red Sox would want to get Lux to be their second baseman if they are giving away their best player.

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But if Andrew Friedman is able to keep Lux and add Betts then it lengthens their lineup drastically.

May and Verdugo are also players that would be a big part of the Dodgers success alongside Betts. Dustin May would likely slot into the back end of the rotation assuming Los Angeles doesn’t keep Hyun-Jin Ryu and Rich Hill. Verdugo would likely be the left fielder with a combination of Betts and Bellinger in center field and right field.

The Dodgers would be replacing A.J. Pollock–who went hitless in the 2019 NLDS– with Mookie Betts, which speaks for itself.

I also believe the Dodgers would be just fine with giving up Ross Stripling and Tony Gonsolin. Los Angeles has a bullpen with a lot of depth that includes Kenley Jansen, Joe Kelly, Blake Treinen, Pedro Baez, and Adam Kolerak.

Therefore, would Stripling and Gonsolin be guaranteed to make the postseason roster or make a large enough impact for the Dodgers in 2020 to refuse a trade that would send over Mookie Betts? I don’t think so.

The final reason why I would pull the trigger if I were in the Dodgers shoes is that they are so close to getting over the hump. Before the disappointing Game 5 loss to the Nationals, they made back-to-back World Series appearances in 2017 and 2018 and who knows what would’ve happened if Howie Kendrick wouldn’t have hit that grand slam? Your guess is as good as mine, but all I know is numerous people thought the Dodgers were considered World Series favorites going into October.

And with that said, they are essentially bringing back the same team that won 106 games in 2019.

Now, you’re telling me if the Los Angeles Dodgers were able to trade for Mookie Betts to play alongside MVP Cody Bellinger, they wouldn’t be able to give the New York Yankees a run for their money in the World Series next year? I don’t think so.