The Mookie Betts trade saga took another turn on Thursday morning, as reports began circulating that the deal between the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and Minnesota Twins is not yet complete.
At issue is the medical report for one of the players being sent to Boston. It appears, as Chris Cotillo pointed out on Twitter , the Red Sox had Brusdar Graterol projected as an eventual member of their rotation before the trade went down. Once the blockbuster deal was agreed to in principle and medical reports were exchanged, the team’s view of its newest acquisition shifted.
It turns out the Red Sox were hoping for a better and healthier pitcher in exchange for Mookie Betts. Not only did Boston part with one of the best players in the game, but its front office has been taking heat from Red Sox fans since the trade was announced.
Bleacher Nation points out Graterol had Tommy John surgery before his 21st birthday. He also dealt with some shoulder issues a season ago. The reports also points out that it’s hard to know exactly which part of the medical report made the Red Sox take a step back. What is clear is the team might be looking to amend the deal a bit.
Of all the possible outcomes, it’s unlikely the trade will be wiped out and undone entirely. As Jeff Passan tweeted , “it’s tough to put the toothpaste back in the tube.”
When all is said and done, the Boston Red Sox felt the organization would be better off without Mookie Betts this season.
There is another wrinkle in completely reversing the three-team trade; the Los Angeles Dodgers shipped power-hitting outfielder Joc Pederson to the Angels just minutes after the Betts deal was done.
While that agreement was made independently of Betts and Price being traded to L.A., it’s a safe bet the Dodgers felt comfortable making that move because they knew they had another option in their outfield.
Those circumstances likely mean the Mookie Betts deal will eventually become final and official. All sides have plenty of incentive to make sure it’s done in one way or another. Whether Brusdar Graterol stays a part of the deal is yet to be seen.
The future of Dodgers’ pitcher Kenta Maeda could also be up in the air. Depending on how the three-team deal is restructured – assuming it’s redone and not scrapped entirely – it’s possible the Minnesota Twins could be getting a different player, or players.