Red Sox And Dodgers Agree To Revised Mookie Betts, David Price Trade
BOSTON (CBS) – An MLB source confirmed to WBZ-TV's Dan Roche that Mookie Betts and David Price will still be traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Outfielder Alex Verdugo, shortstop Jeter Downs, and catcher Connor Wong are headed to Boston.
ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan was the first to report the deal.
BREAKING: The trade that will send Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers has been agreed upon, sources tell ESPN. Outfielder Alex Verdugo and shortstop Jeter Downs are among those who will go to the Boston Red Sox.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 9, 2020
It's been a strange week for Mookie Betts, David Price, and the Red Sox after a blockbuster trade was agreed upon, then taken off the table.
Network reporter Jon Heyman said earlier on Sunday, there has been "progress" in trade talks.
Hear there's progress in the Mookie talks. Sides seem hopeful. #Dodgers #RedSox #MNTwins
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 9, 2020
This comes after the Red Sox agreed to trade Betts and Price to the Dodgers in exchange for outfielder Alex Verdugo and Twins right-hander Brusdar Graterol.
But Boston expressed concerns over Graterol's medicals. The team reportedly projected him as a starter, but upon seeing his records, they worried he would be a reliever instead. Talks reopened between the three teams, but got nowhere.
As of Saturday, the Twins were reportedly stepping away from the trade. But a day later, things appear to be in motion again according to Heyman and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
In current talks, #MNTwins are working hard to satisfy #Dodgers and the Dodgers are working hard to satisfy #RedSox, sources say. Two separate deals are possible (for example, Graterol-plus for Maeda and Verdugo and others for Betts/Price). But all three teams involved in talks.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 9, 2020
Alex Speier of the Boston Globe reported that Graterol will now likely not be a part of the trade.
If an agreement is reached, there's a good chance that the Red Sox get Verdugo and an additional prospect or prospects, but as of now, the Sox are considered unlikely to end up with Graterol.
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) February 9, 2020
On Friday, Major League Baseball Players Association executive director Tony Clark said in a statement the sides should reach a resolution.
"The proposed trades between the Dodgers, Red Sox, Twins, and Angels need to be resolved without further delay. The events of this last week have unfairly put several Players' lives in a state of limbo," Clark said. "The unethical leaking of medical information as well as the perversion of the salary arbitration process serve as continued reminders that too often Players are treated as commodities by those running the game."
The Red Sox report to Spring Training this week.