Report: Twins pull out of Mookie Betts trade
A key portion of the Mookie Betts trade has reportedly fallen through.
According to LaVelle Neal of the StarTribune, the Minnesota Twins are pulling out of a three-team deal that would have sent Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Twins were poised to give up top prospect Brusdar Graterol while receiving Kenta Maeda from the Dodgers. The Red Sox took issue with Graterol’s medicals and demanded another player from the Twins.
On Saturday, after little progress was made in negotiations, the Twins made clear they would not be changing their end of the deal. However, a differing report from Alden Gonzalez says the Twins have not backed out.
Twins have not backed out of initial 3-team trade that would send Mookie Betts to the Dodgers, I'm told. They are willing to renegotiate and attempt to work through it, though whether it ultimately gets figured out is uncertain. All sides want a resolution by reporting date.
— Alden Gonzalez (@Alden_Gonzalez) February 8, 2020
It seems Minnesota is playing hardball and saying they won’t give up anyone else.
The Twins backing out would mean the Red Sox and Dodgers would need to either make a deal directly or find a replacement team for the Twins to net the Red Sox the other prospect they seek. The Sox were preparing for this possibility on Friday, so there is a chance the deal will still be salvaged.
The terms of the original deal were reported Tuesday, and everything has been in a holding pattern since then. The Twins will miss a chance to upgrade their rotation, but will be able to hold onto a top pitching prospect. The Red Sox and Dodgers, however, are left scrambling to salvage a deal that both teams are motivated to make.
