Mookie Betts Trade Expected To Become Official On Friday

The Mookie Betts and David Price trade between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers could finally become official later today. The deal, first reported on Tuesday, had hit a snag that meant the teams were going to have to work out new terms or decide to settle on the potentially damaged goods.

USA Today writer Bob Nightengale tweeted his sources told him the exchange is expected to be finalized on Friday. Nightengale added if the Betts and Price trade becomes official, the same could be said about the Joc Pederson and Ross Stripling deal the Dodgers have in place with the Angels.

This report should be taken with a grain of salt, however, as reporters have been saying they expected the trade to become official for the last few days. There is a slight difference between Nightengale’s tweet and the other reports that have come out, though — Nightengale gave a time frame for when the deal was supposed to be completed.

Most reporters have been hedging their bets, only writing that it will happen “soon.” Nightengale, on the other hand, said he heard it will be done by the end of the day Friday, a reversal of some rumors that occurred overnight.

On Thursday, talk began that the trade could fall through completely and all the teams involved would have to hit the reset button.

The issue stemmed from the return the Red Sox were getting for Betts and Price. The team received, among other prospects, Twins pitcher Brusdar Graterol. The young hurler is able to throw a 100 MPH fastball, but he’s also had a series of injuries early on in his career.

While Minnesota convinced the Red Sox he was finally healthy, rumors began circulating that his medical reports weren’t favorable. It was said that Boston was looking to add Graterol to their starting rotation and his reports indicated he would likely pan out more as a relief pitcher.

The Mookie Betts/David Price #RedSox–#Dodgers trade is expected to finally become official today, the teams say, which means the Joc Pederson/Ross Stripling trade from the Dodgers LA to the #Angels becomes official as well.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 7, 2020

The Red Sox were rumored to have asked for an additional trade piece or another player altogether. As of now, the Twins have not agreed to edit the deal. While the Betts trade was technically between the Dodgers, Twins, and Red Sox, Los Angeles also made a deal with the Angels that was contingent on them getting Betts and Price.

If the first trade falls through, it’s been reported the Pederson, Stripling trade would go away as well. With that many teams and that many moving pieces at stake, there was supreme pressure for everyone involved to work out their issues. It seems like that may finally be the case.