Los Angeles Dodgers: breaking down the blockbuster Red Sox deal
By David Rice
The Mookie Betts and David Price trade between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Boston Red Sox has happened. How will it affect all four teams involved?
Now former Boston Red Sox players Mookie Betts and David Price have been rumored to be traded as a package deal since the December Winter Meetings in San Diego. Now with Spring Training camps a week from opening for most teams the big deal has finally happened, and its ramifications will have a significant effect on the Los Angeles Dodgers and the other three teams.
First and foremost the Dodgers have improved significantly in their quest to break their now 32-year championship drought. The Red Sox have given themselves some payroll flexibility while also acquiring some major league ready prospects and the Minnesota Twins also acquired a proven veteran pitcher who will bolster their already much-improved rotation.
A fourth team also benefited from this blockbuster deal and that is the Los Angeles Angels, who another much-needed starting pitcher as well a versatile outfielder who has a proven track record. All in all, it was a wild and crazy day that will improve all four teams involved.
In case you missed it here is the deals that were made Tuesday evening.
The first deal went down at approximately 9 pm Eastern time Tuesday night. Outfielder Mookie Betts and Left-Handed Pitcher David Price were traded from the Boston Red Sox to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for young outfielder Alex Verdugo.
A third team, the Minnesota Twins were also involved as the Dodgers traded starter/reliever Kenta Maeda to the Twins, who then shipped one of their top pitching prospects Brusdar Graterol to Boston to complete this blockbuster three-team trade.
A few hours later the Dodgers made another deal with the Los Angeles Angels that was done to make room for Betts and Price. The Dodgers sent power-hitting outfielder Joc Pederson and hard-throwing starting pitcher Ross Stripling to their Southern California neighbors the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for versatile infielder Luis Rengifo. There are possibly some prospects involved as well on both sides, but their names have not been released as of yet.
So let’s breakdown the deals and look at it from each team’s perspective.