Red Sox: Chaim Bloom passed the test in Betts, Dodgers trade
By Ben Fadden
Breaking down the Red Sox’s return
Let’s first start off with the return Boston got. Red Sox fans might think that they should get a haul back if they are relinquishing a former MVP and All-Star starter–and they did if you factor in the money.
David Price doesn’t have a team-friendly contract by any means and Betts is getting paid $27 million this season, so in order for the Dodgers to take on both of the contracts, the Red Sox needed to be ok with getting a smaller return.
But let’s not act like the Red Sox got a small return.
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Brusdar Graterol is not a name that will get Boston fans excited, but he is a top-100 prospect that has a well-above-average fastball and above-average slider coming out of the bullpen in the future. He was the Minnesota Twins top pitching prospect and has already debuted in the majors.
Alex Verdugo was the centerpiece in this deal and rightfully so. The Dodgers have resisted trading him in numerous deals over the years because they knew how talented he is. But this was the right deal to pull the trigger. So Bloom turned one year of Betts into five years of Verdugo.
He is a 2-win player that could sit in the middle of the Boston Red Sox lineup in what will be his first real chance to be an impact player at the big league level. In over 100 games last season he hit .296 with a .475 slugging percentage and 12 home runs.
He will be added to an outfield that already includes Jackie Bradley Jr. and Andrew Benintendi.