Boston Red Sox: Betts off; Mookie Betts trade officially in jeopardy
By Adam Mann
The Mookie Betts trade was never meant to go through. Or maybe it was but the fan outcry made the Boston Red Sox reconsider. Here’s what we know.
As-is, the blockbuster 3-way trade between the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Minnesota Twins won’t go through. Heck it might not go through at all.
As reported by The Athletic the rumored reason for the initial holdup was a concern with Brusdar Graterol’s medical report. And now according to Chris Miller from the Minneapolis Tribune, the Twins just aren’t interested in the Mookie Betts trade anymore.
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Entering the year Graterol was Baseball America’s 55th ranked prospect. Color me skeptical that this is the only reason the trade was being held up.
The only other player the Sox were getting in this trade was Alex Verdugo, Baseball America’s 35th ranked prospect. According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, the Red Sox wanted a top 10 prospect thrown into the deal as well.
The Red Sox suddenly wanted a prospect that was better than either name previously provided. And they still wanted Graterol and Verdugo too. In the end, it was too much for the Twins to swallow and they decided to move on.
The Red Sox want more. This deal still might go through. Albeit some more names and different teams are going to be passed around. And it’s not a sure thing that it does get worked out.
This whole situation has the MLBPA and its Executive Director Tony Clark on edge as well
And he’s right. This whole deal has all these players lives in limbo. And for what? All the Boston Red Sox wanted was to get more for Betts.
Boston thought this was the best way to do it. It might work. It might not.
It hurts Graterol more than anyone. His trade value, and chances of getting on a team that wants to fast track him to the big leagues are severely impacted by these medical rumors. Potentially baseless rumors that never should have been leaked to the media.
dark. Next. Rob Manfred needs to be sent packing
Who knows if the Mookie Betts trade will get finalized? In the meantime, I wouldn’t be buying and Mookie jerseys in L.A.