Los Angeles Dodgers: breaking down the blockbuster Red Sox deal
By David Rice
Boston Red Sox
Sending Betts and Price; receiving Verdugo and Grusado Graterol
The Boston Red Sox knew what All-Star Outfielder Mookie Betts wanted after the 2020 season, and they decided that they were not going to be the team that would give it to him. Betts will be just 27-years old when the 2020 season begins which is what is considered to be the beginning of his prime seasons. Betts will be a free agent after the 2020 season and is reportedly looking for a long-term deal similar to Mike Trout’s 12-year 426.5 million dollar deal somewhere in the neighborhood of 10-12 years for somewhere close to 400 million dollars.
The Red Sox knew in order to compete in the future and possibly get under the luxury tax threshold they could not afford that deal. They also wanted to get rid of David Price and his albatross contract that still has three years at 32 million dollars per season left on it. That gave them an idea: Use Betts to entice another team to take on David Price and pay for at least some of his big contract which would further help them to get under the luxury tax.
In return, the Red Sox hoped to get some prospects in return from whatever team would take Price and Betts. With that goal in mind, the Red Sox shopped Betts and Price and finally found a taker in the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Dodgers sent highly-regarded outfielder Alex Verdugo and a top pitching prospect they acquired from Minnesota in Brusdar Graterol. Verdugo hit .294 with 12 homers and 44 RBIs in 106 games in 2019 for the Dodgers and can play all three outfield spots. He was drafted in the second round of 2014 draft and has been highly-regarded ever since and he will be close to 24 years old when the season starts.
Graterol has minimal major league experience pitching only 9.2 innings in 2019 for the Twins with a 4.56 ERA. However, his stuff is said to be electric as he routinely has hit 100 mph on the radar gun. Graterol is the Twins fourth-ranked prospect and top pitching prospect in the organization, who is ranked 83rd overall in MLB’s top 100 prospects.
Verdugo and Graterol could replace Betts and Price immediately for the Red Sox at a fraction of the cost that probably would be in the 1.5 million dollar range for 2020. They are also both under club control until 2023 for Verdugo and at least 2024 for Graterol at a reasonable cost.
Will Verdugo ever reach the level of Mookie Betts is debatable and how will Graterol pan out in a major league rotation is anything, but a sure thing. However, with the situation the Red Sox were in financially this move gives them a chance to go out and spend money in the off-season over the next couple of years that could make this rebuilding process a very short one.
Overall this trade should benefit both the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Red Sox.