Report: Mookie Betts trade not a certainty to go through

The Boston Red Sox may now be posturing in order to get their way in the Mookie Betts trade.

MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reported on Thursday that the Red Sox are trying to get more in the deal and that the trade is “not a certainty.”

Red Sox are said to be trying to reconfigure the part of the Betts 3-team deal with the Twins (meaning more than Graterol). While there’s still hope the mega deal gets done in some form, some involved are now suggesting it’s not a certainty.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 7, 2020

Word emerged from Ken Rosenthal on Wednesday night that there was a snag in the trade after the Red Sox took issue with what they found in Brusdar Graterol’s medical records. Graterol is a 21-year-old pitcher who had Tommy John surgery in 2016 and dealt with a shoulder impingement last year.

The Red Sox reportedly felt Graterol was more suited for a relief pitcher role rather than a starting pitcher role after reviewing his records, which makes them believe he is less valuable than they thought and that they should be getting more. Skeptics feel like Boston is trying to save face after being criticized for getting so little in return for the 2018 AL MVP and David Price.