The Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers have been trying to find a way to complete the Mookie Betts trade after the deal hit a snag earlier in the week, and the Minnesota Twins are not entirely out of the picture.
The Dodgers and Red Sox were making progress in the Betts trade as of Sunday morning, according to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic adds that the Twins are still involved in the talks.
As @JonHeyman reported, progress today in three-team Betts blockbuster – and yes, #MNTwins still involved, source says.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 9, 2020
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
Like Rosenthal, Heyman heard it is possible the Twins could end up making a separate deal with the Dodgers for pitching prospect Brusdar Graterol after the Red Sox expressed concern over the 21-year-old’s medical history.
In one proposed scenario Twins and Dodgers make their own deal involving Maeda and a Graterol with Graterol possibly sticking with LA. Non-Boston docs seem to have no big issue with Graterol meds.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 9, 2020
The Twins were obviously in on the Betts talks for a reason, as they want to acquire Kenta Maeda. It seems highly unlikely that all of the players involved in the deal would just remain with their respective teams after how far negotiations have come, and many believe the Red Sox have only pivoted after hearing negative backlash from fans and the media.
When all is said and done, it would be a shock if Betts doesn’t wind up in LA. That may be by way of a three-team trade involving the Twins and Red Sox, or the Betts trade may end up being its own entity. Either way, it sounds like the blockbuster trade will be completed at some point.
