The latest news from two coasts, as the Dodgers and Red Sox continue to adjust to new realities after the blockbuster trade that sent Mookie Betts and David Price to Chavez Ravine…
- Talks between the Dodgers and Red Sox about Betts began to develop in late December, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman told Jorge Castillo of the L.A. Times and other reporters, though Los Angeles first looked into acquiring Betts prior to last July’s trade deadline. A late surge for the Sox (who had an 8-3 run during an 11-game between July 17 and 27) convinced them to keep Betts and make a push for the postseason. Pondering about what a deadline Sox/Dodgers trade would’ve looked like is an interesting what-if, especially since Friedman would’ve been negotiating with a different person — Dave Dombrowski was still Boston’s president of baseball operations at the time, before being replaced by chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom (who used to work with Friedman in the Rays’ front office).
- Unsurprisingly, the Dodgers don’t see Betts as just a one-year rental, as team president Stan Kasten told The Athletic’s Andy McCullough that pursuing a long-term extension with the outfielder was “certainly was part of our thinking [with the trade] — that that’s what we would like the outcome to be.” Friedman concurred, saying “from our standpoint, I think he’s going to fall in love with the city, the fan support, the teammates, the facilities. And we’re just trying to do everything we can to continue that and have our own guys want to stay.” Keeping Betts would require a financial commitment that would far surpass anything Friedman has made since he joined the organization in 2015, though surely the baseball ops head and Dodgers ownership are aware of what it will cost the team to lock Betts up — in all likelihood a $400MM+ deal. However, as McCullough notes, the Dodgers have seemingly laid the groundwork for big future expenditures with less than $45MM in guaranteed payroll commitments on the books following the 2021 season. It remains a question as to whether Betts would be open to an extension, of course, given how he has so steadfastly expressed his desire to test the open market as a free agent. Future contracts weren’t on Betts’ mind as he spoke with reporters, saying “I’m still trying to find a house and all those types of things. I’m not even really thinking about that. I’m just focused on staying with 2020 and going from there.”
- As to Betts’ projected replacement in the Red Sox outfield, Alex Verdugo might not be ready for Boston’s Opening Day lineup, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe reports. Back and oblique problems sent Verdugo to the injured list on August 6 of last season, and he only appeared in one minor league game after that placement. Speier writes that Verdugo’s back is still bothering him, though the Sox don’t see the injury as a long-term problem. If Verdugo does miss time at the start of the season, it could be for precautionary reasons, as “a small number of games missed early in the year is better than a substantial stretch on the sideline if he is rushed into the lineup.“
Alex Verdugo hurt? That just breaks my heart….. I guess the Red Sox were concerned with the wrong medical records.
I can hardly wait until baseball comes down on them for pulling an Astros.
Hope you take disappointment well.
I’m an Angel fan and I’m still alive…. Of course I take disappointment well. 🙂
LOL, good answer!!!
You have to realize that reports are already coming out saying the Red Sox are no where close to the Astros if at all. I’ve read multiple reports stating there is not much to the accusations. The Yankees were mentioned as well in the same report as the Red Sox and from what I’ve heard not much there either.
Also you must live a pathetic life if you cannot wait for that. I hope your life gets better bud
Hahaha very well said
Does that mean Boston was not willing to full out cheat or just weren’t as good at it? A club effort, whatever that level is (especially if it involves technology) is so much more than a player on second base trying to gain an advantage.
Go back to the PCL
Why does Mike Trout get booed at dodger Stadium?
Jealousy or fans have no class
LA is a big place and a lot of people are dumb?
I always wondered why dodger fans booed Mike Trout at dodger Stadium I got my answer
thank you
Dodger stadium holds about 50,000 people though
Sounds like the entire dodger fan base are booing
That’s a lot of dumb people
Nonsense, Geno. There are always a few knuckleheads in any sports venue. Mike Trout is revered in Los Angeles, just as he is in Anaheim.
Me and my sons went to Dodger Stadium when the angels were playing and I was surprise so many dodger fans booed Mike Trout he’s never verbally said or badmouth the dodgers or there fans so I was just wondering why Dodger fans hate Mike Trout
I think Mike Trout Cody Bellinger Mookie Betts and others kids should look up to as role models I think Booning Players doesn’t set a good example for all the young kids that are at the ball park just my humble opinion
Best player on the opposing team always gets booed in every park in MLB. This isn’t a Mike Trout appreciation tour.
He’s the one capable of doing the most damage to the hometown team and causing your team to lose, therefore, he gets booed.
Dodger fans don’t hate Trout.
When was that 2014?
Wrong franchise. The once upon a time PCL Angels currently play in El Paso.
Angels also where the AAA farmhand of the Chicago Cubs the Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles’ Wrigley Field was the original Wrigley Field, bearing the name when it opened in 1925 as the Cubs ballpark was known as Cubs Park. In 1903 the Los Angeles Angels became charter members of the minor league, Pacific Coast League. For over two decades the Angels played at the 15,000 seat Washington Park. In 1921 owner of the Chicago Cubs, William Wrigley, purchased the team
And also Catalina Island, where the Cubs trained during the spring until the early 1950s.
I don’t know how that worked flying other teams in and out for spring training games old man Wrigley owned the island
Yeah well its been a while and MLB has come up with NOTHING on the Sox…so sorry for ya
You’re an idiot if you think the Red Sox did anything close to what the astros did.
It’s been over 6 months, how is Verdugo’s back already not a long term problem?
and he’s a bit of a knucklehead.
From what solid sources are you basing that on? He’s a young, confident if not cocky player. In interviews, he explains his confidence in his abilities. Maybe you’re basing that notion on a tired trope or some concerns about his makeup from 2 years back?
As far as his physical skills, while hewon’t steal many bases, he’s a good base runner and defender(arm and range). And he aims to make contact and doesn’t sacrifice K’a for homers. That is refreshing to see in this age of “three true outcomes.”
If LAD doesn’t re-sign Betts, giving up Verdugo will come back to haunt them. Unless they win it all in ‘20.
Just google “Alex Verdugo makeup”. You’ll find grounded concerns.
Unless Betts leaves money on the table to stay in LA, signing him won’t make the trade better. It will make it worse. Because it will mean they overpaid for him twice. Once in prospects/young players/taking Price to acquire him and then once in $ to sign him.
They overpaid in the trade because they traded from strength. There are players in front of Downs and prospects behind him. Same with Wong. Verdugo is the only one that would hurt.
They are paying David price Rich Hills old contract. Rich hill gave them 42 innings in 2019. That’s the bar Price needs to hit. They got a very good pitcher at 16M a year
Before his cyst it was one of his BEST Boston years
“Taking on price” isn’t a bad thing when he’s paid below market value lmfao. You just wanna complain dude
Betts is going to stand in RF Opening Day
Ain’t gonna hurt to not see Verdugo on the IL instead…
If the Dodgers win it all, they didn’t overpay. To put yourself over the top that’s what a championship team sometimes has to do. Also, with a deep farm, eventually there’s a roster crunch.
Price at $16m a year for 3 years (in which his production will likely go down, not up) isn’t exactly “below market value.”
Probably not but thanks for commenting, Scott.
“…on a tired trope or some concerns about his makeup from 2 years back?”
Hmmm.
Or…maybe it’s “the fact that Verdugo has been credibly implicated in at least being present for a sexual assault.”
bit.ly/39tQ4qC
To be fair, I’d argue that even most Dodgers fans didn’t know about this, as it was effectively wiped from Verdugo’s narrative, even while he opened last year so well.
When you read the above story, and then do any additional research, you will understand why there are those of us all too happy he’s a former Dodger.
it was when he 1st came up a cpl Septembers ago…the kid learned from it and was a fantastic teammate last yr, give the guy a break!
What makes you say that about Verdugo. Because he is exuberant and cocky?
Back problems rarely get better, especially those that last over 6 months ie Juan Gonzales
Maybe so but there is something that made Boston believers. The pitcher they rejected was going to pitch, but maybe in relief instead of starting. Verdugo won’t do anything if he doesn’t heal but they went ahead with it.
23 years old and already having back problems? Yikes
I saw a video of Verdugo bench pressing 3 plates with bad form. That won’t end well for his lower back.
This was a salary dump. Sox will not be good for a while. The owners are playing cheap. They are probably setting up to sell the team.
Oh please Downs and Verdugo is great value for a 1 year rental.
Can’t forget about Wong. He could have really good value as a super-duper utility (util+catcher) guy.
New movie title: Gibbs Go Home.
*Gibba
Read the report in this same article. THE DODGERS ARE NOT LOOKING AT THIS A S A 1 YR DEAL
That doesn’t matter. They could sign him next offseason regardless of where he is now. Any contract he gets will not be a factor of this trade. Only the comp pick if he were to leave.
Yeah, but don’t you worry that LAD is looking at this as a 1yr deal?
No, but Boston was. They could not afford him a year from now and to wait until the trade deadline or end of the season would yield them much less. Had they been smarter, they would have dealt him last year and got one or two more prospects working with more interested clubs than just LA and SD.
The differences are roster payroll space next year and the Dodgers lack of championships recently. They have to say it’s not for one year as otherwise the pressure will build even more than it already is. Also, the Sox are unlikely to commit 10 + years on a deal that will put them over the tax limit again. They likely will wait for the next CBA to establish new limits and then try to revamp like the Dodgers did in 18. Such may not be possible but if the Dodgers do win, the front office deserves the credit by getting payroll commitments down like they did. If they don’t, it was for nought and everyone will criticize them for waiting for 2020 when they were so close in recent years. Interesting contrast to watch unfold between two of the four mega valued clubs. Boston’s 18 championship salvaged their overspending. Counting the Yankees, on paper the way NY and Dodgers have consistently won recently, a computer would probably choose them over Boston when picking the best organization. That’s why I always argue the game is won on the field and not via sabermetrics, algorithms or other actuarial type tools.
Yeah all the Sox have is Devers, Bogaerts, JD, Benny, Sale, ERod, Barnes, Workman, and a mix of interesting younger players like Chavis, Hernandez, Downs, Casas, Groome and Dalbec. They will suck. Sarcasm.
And don’t forget about Duran (he’ll replace JBJ next season), Chatham & Mata too. I know Baseball America doesn’t value their system too highly but they have some pretty good prospects who are major league ready or very close to it.
If Sale doesn’t bounce back their pitching is very suspect.
Senior: the understatement of 2020…
Suspect even if Sale does bounce back
Ellis, the bullpen is not great. Both Workman and Barnes simply throw too many pitches per innings/outings and walk too many batters.
That line up should be good for 4th place in the AL East
It is not sarcasm, if you have to identify it.
I hate the Red Sox but yes it was a salary dump of a player that said was going to test free agency and a past his prime pitcher with a large contract putting them over the luxury tax. It was a good move from the Red Sox. Shows your ignorance to call a team who spends over $200 million cheap and just resetting their luxury tax. I don’t think they are good enough to win the AL East this coming season but I have no doubt they will be in the wild card hunt.
Funny how many reports mention the Yankees and Dodgers resetting their tax base in 2018. Sox did it first to perfection in 17. If not for them doing that and the other two big spenders staying on the sidelines, they would not have gotten JDM, their real 18 MVP nor won it all that year. Spending does not guarantee winning but how many Sox fans would trade a better 2020 outlook for those 18 memories? Not many.
They played the CBT so good they had to trade a generational talent within two years!!! Genius I tell you!
Hahahahaha that’s the dumbest take ever on Boston and the luxury tax
It wasn’t the deals then that them them in this crunch. Everyone knew 2020 was coming but the then doubled down giving deals that include this year to Eovaldi, Sale and Boegarts. While Xman took a discount then that looks like a three year bargain (opt out), they gave Eovaldi too many years and should not have signed Sale at that time for what they did. They saved on years but gave full value to a historically half year pitcher. Just my take. The other side of the coin is Mookie still might have been traded anyway because of his desire to test the market and the pressure the team would have been under to sign him again at all costs from the fan base.
By the way your name needs to be changed if you don’t understand. Even if you disagree, it’s far from the dumbest take. Owners in most sports cities want to win at all costs (within the rules). Do you really thing Steinbrenner would be happy if he were alive and running the show still that the Yankees made the playoffs every year but haven’t won it all since 2009? Cashman would likely be running the Mets right now. No horseshoes close calls for him. The Sox have won four titles under the current ownership. As a Sox fan, what more could I ask for?
Playing cheap? They are gearing up for future spending and player development. The Yankees and Dodgers both did the same so they can do what they are doing now.
LAD nor NYY traded any superstars to do it… Boston got some nice talent, but it’s Mookie freakin Betts they had to cut so they can pay Eovaldi 20M+
Exactly right. Blame ownership for past signings instead of better planning if you believe he could have been signed earlier. If the club made a decision in 17 when Zi believe he first said he was going year to year to then test free agency, they could have went for it in 18 and 19 knowing then they would never re-sign Betts. I’m just saying teams plan ahead and this could have been thought out or a mistake. Either way to get nothing for him while continuing to absorb draft and international penalties was too much to chance. No team has signed an every day player to 10 years and won outside of NY and Jeter and there was no tax limits then to my knowledge.
Gibba: “owners are playing cheap”. How do you figure that? Top payroll last year, top 3 past 5. years. They fall to 5th place for 2021 to reset payroll, and not lose draft slots or international pool money and they’re “cheap”.
You would make a terrible GM for any team not called the Yankees.
Who has Boston lost since the 2018 season when they were all world? Did the overachieve that year or underachieve last year. Losing Betts is a big deal but Price not nearly so much. They lost their manager (not sure why when not current Astro player was been affected). Why should the Red Sox be bad even it they may not be great. Betts average was down from 2018 but RBI, HRs, RS were not all that different. One player in the NBA can carry a club to an extent, not so much in baseball.
Starting staff is not nearly as good. Yes ERod was great last year but this year the team has no Price or Porcello and an injured Sale who has never been great in September. Add in the clutch production from a Pearce and possibly Holt too. Will Chavis become Holt? Will Benny be good as a lead off hitter? In the past, he hasn’t. Will Eovaldi stay on the field and be as good as he was? Who will eat those innings Porcello gave the team? Will they got 75% production from RF assuming the combination of SS and 3B improve and make up the rest? A lot of questions.
Oh, David Price’s fingers hurt? Well now Verdugo’s back is gonna hurt, cuz he just pulled landscaping duty. Look at the nametag, you’re in my world now grandma.
Take my like, I’m easy that way.
Hahaha
At least Verdugo can’t blame his back issues on Fortnite
His back problems started during a renegade session of tik tok.
I really hope we hear that Verdugo has been under constant medical care since his back injury, getting PT and working on strengthening exercises. He has not picked up a bat since his last AAA rehab assignment…I’m worried about the seriousness of this injury. As someone with chronic back issues, I know how painful and nagging they can be but 6+ months post injury and not being ready by April 1st at age 23 is really concerning. Also, if there are structural issues here (herniated or degenerated discs for example) this is going to hamper him for his entire career. He needs to get in great shape and keep his core strong. Hoping for the best but not a good start to his career in Boston.
Been saying since the start, the only reason Verdugo was available as the centerpiece of this trade is the possible long term consequences of his back injury.
Correct. He was untouchable just a few years ago.
He might have been untouchable this year had he not missed the last two months of the season (and kept playing at the same level), and more valuable had he been able to resume baseball activities during the offseason. None of this is to say his injury is chronic (who knows?) but we should all know that injured players are less valuable in trade than healthy players.
He passed his physical. Yes, back issues at an early age can be problematic but please let’s not get over dramatic here. Had there been real concern, we’d be on deal alternative number three.
Lmfao. Boston almost killed the deal because of medicals. If they were worried about a Verdugos back, he wouldn’t be in Boston right now
Stop pretending it’s a story
Why would the Red Sox reject the Graterol deal and not the Verdugo deal after a “review of the medical reports and a physical” if your concerns are substantial?
Wouldn’t that seem odd to you?
Sore back since August and that’s not a problem?
At no point as a fan do i want a player 10 years north of 300 million No Thank you
Hamstrings you down the road.
I’ll take Betts and Trout for 10 years any day.
That’s prolly the 2 safest bets in baseball, and might work well. But might turn out like Pujols and hamilton in ana
and how many rings does Trout have?
Could be his supporting cast- and no pitching
Mike Trout has 3 MVPs
Aren’t you accuse of sign stealing
Father time wins everytime
Then get in the bidding war for Betts next year.
He’s a free agent.
Here’s your big chance to have him for $426M.
Such as……Albert Pujols?
Prince Fielder? Cabrera? Body types are not like Mookie but his small frame has other concerns five to seven years from now. I know they’re different but I look at Ellsbury as a realistic comparison for a player who did not age well.
His game primarily is speed.
Speed usually goes before hitting power.
I think the Sox are gonna surprise. But im concerned about the manager internship. Boston is a classy organization, this isn’t over.
Let’s hope so, but they need to add at least one, if not two more starters to their roster. I don’t think Houck or Mata are ready for the majors quite yet. They should have taken a shot on Taijuan Walker if you ask me.
Who have they lost since 2018? Were they playing over their head in 2018 or under in 2019? Bett’s had a higher average in ’18 but his overall numbers were not so different in ’19.
On a side note: I hear that Reese McGuire does an excellent Pee-Wee Herman impression.
If ur not looking at it as a 1 year rental then ur either really stupid bc hes said over and over hes not signing an extension and with Boras as his agent, theres no reason to doubt that or ur really stupid bc ur planning on going all out and bidding against urself to retain him and that’s never a good idea although if anyone can afford to do so it’s the dodgers so maybe its genius and we just dont see it yet.
Boras isn’t Betts’ agent Einstein!
You could be more insulting and less informed but you’d have to work on it. LA, if they choose, can outbid anyone for Betts services when he hits free agency. They have a lot of salary coming of the books at the end of 20120 and 2021. They’ll have to decide on Seager then and Bellinger after that, but all teams have that problem if they have any young talent.
That would all still be the case if they hadn’t traded for Betts
Yes, of course. I as much as said that when I said all teams have the problem. What the other teams don’t have no is Betts.
Betts will not resign. He will test free agency. I do like the fact that the Dodgers will get a compensation pick… Not too much talk about that.
Because the odds of that comp pick putting up more WAR than the combination of Verdugo, Downs, Wong and whoever the Dodgers could have signed for 3/$48m are so low as to be negligible.
You forgot to mention that Betts and Price in that comparison. Also, I see Friedman canceling out Downs with Grateral and the comp pick canceling out Wong, so the real trade is Verdugo and Maeda for Betts and Price.
Why would there be talk about a compensation pick? You think one is as good as the other?. It’s not likely he will re sign with LA prior to FA unless LA offers the $420 million he ask Boston for. I don’t see him going for that much but he will set a record. I hope the Angels realize the jewel they have in Trout. although they threw Arte’s entire checkbook at him. He is happy there and a ring doesn’t seem to be an issue.
WOW we got rid of Price!!! No matter how great Mookie is, ridding of Price is Great! Sorry Mookie but you begged for it- Big mouth Big results. Price, you knew it was coming in some form or another. You definitely underperformed.
Could the Red Sox use the extra cap space gained to call Rusney Castillo out of AAA???
This trade is not going to age well for Boston. I can see Verdugo being a pretty big flop and the other prospects are no guarantee to give the big club any return whatsoever! Ultimately, this is only going to be viewed as a cost saving move and nothing more…a sad end to the Mookie Betts boston success story!
Verdugo, when/if healthy looks like the real thing. Had he not been hurt and playing on a team that rotates it’s players like it was volleyball, he might have had a chance at RoY. Good speed, good glove, aggressive on the bases and is a contact hitter with some power. Under different circumstances I’d be sorry to see him go
Agreed. I was looking forward to watching how Verdugo developed as a player, but this was the right move at the right time for both teams.
If Betts doesn’t sign with LA the Dodgers can retain a draft pick from QO.
Do not sleep on Boston. Sale returns to form they will have a chance to reach the postseason again. Rolling out Bogarts, Devers, Martinez and Benintendi on a nightly basis helps. Yankees are much stronger though, it’s their AL East to lose.
As if a draft pick would be as good as Mookie Betts. Dodgers can’t lose.
The Red Sox had a Sale for 1/2 Price.
And all Betts are off.
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRHU26eqSx…
Check out the Red Sox Luxury Tax situation for 2021 and beyond.
They reset “below” the Luxury Tax level for 2020.
They get 3 prospects for Betts and they unload Price for $48M.
Boston could pay Mookie the $426M (he wants) after this year?
Assuming Boston wanted to do this and thought Mookie was worth it.
They would have had to pay that to Mookie anyway if he was to stay right?
And they have 3 prospects for 1 year of Mookie’s time (potentially) and they dumped Price.
If the Dodger’s win a WS in 2020 then everyone is happy.
Except for the 2020 Red Sox fans. LOL.
Betts
Bellinger
Let that sink in.