According to a report from Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Dodgers have agreed to a deal with the Red Sox to acquire superstar outfielder Mookie Betts and starting pitcher David Price.
The Dodgers, who have won consecutive six division titles, now look to become even stronger as they attempt to break their 31-year championship drought. At this point, this is a team going all in.
Betts, who will be a free agent in 2021, has solidified himself as one of the best players in all of baseball, posting 35.4 fWAR over the last five seasons, including an elite 10.4 in 2018. He has spent his entire major and minor league career with the Red Sox, leading them to a World Series championship in 2018. The Dodgers will likely try to attain Betts long-term.
Price has been in the big leagues since 2008, posting a 3.31 ERA and 41.7 fWAR over the course of a very solid major league career. Now 34, Price is still posting decent numbers, though is more of a salary dump in the larger context of the deal.
Betts is owed $27 million in 2020, while Price is owed $96 million over the next three seasons. Rosenthal reports that significant cash will be heading from the Red Sox to the Dodgers in the deal.
Additionally, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that there could be a third team involved.
According to Rosenthal, Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson is going to the Angels in what is technically a separate deal. Jeff Passan of ESPN reports that infielder Luis Rengifo is the return for Pederson.
Rosenthal later reported that the Dodgers are sending right-handed starting pitcher Kenta Maeda to the Twins as part of the package, with right-handed pitcher Brusdar Graterol going from the Twins to the Dodgers. Alex Verdugo is the only other name that has been confirmed to be in the Dodgers’ package so far.
We will update with more information as it is reported.
