Mookie Betts trade reportedly back on as Sox get two more prospects, Graterol to LA

BOSTON — After days of speculation following the reported trade of Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers, that trade is set to go through with the Red Sox receiving different pieces than before, according to multiple reports. ESPN’s Jeff Passan was first to report the new deal, which broke just after 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Instead of Twins pitcher Brusdar Graterol, the Red Sox will receive Dodgers infield prospect Jeter Downs, along with outfielder Alex Verdugo, who was originally set to come to Boston in the initial trade reports.

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Multiple outlets are also reporting that Connor Wong, a catching and infielder prospect from the Dodgers, will also go to the Red Sox in the trade.

Betts will head to Los Angeles along with pitcher David Price, both of whom were originally included by the Red Sox in the reported deal. As was the case in the first version of the alleged trade, the Red Sox will reportedly pay about half of the $96 million owed to Price over the next three seasons.

Graterol, who was originally slated to come to Boston from Minnesota, will reportedly still be on the move, joining the Dodgers in exchange for pitcher Kenta Maeda.

Graterol apparently became a source of concern following the initial trade announcement, after his medical records reportedly caused Red Sox management to view the pitcher as a reliever instead of a starter, which caused them to allegedly reevaluate the initial trade deal.

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All players involved will still need to pass physicals in order for the trade to be official.

Betts is set to enter free agency at the end of the 2020 season after agreeing to a 1-year, $27 million contract with the Red Sox in a record-setting pre-arbitration agreement in January.

Rumors about a Betts trade have been swirling for most of the offseason, with most of the speculation being that Betts would end up with the Dodgers or the San Diego Padres.

Betts is a four-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner. He was voted the American League MVP in 2018, when he hit a major league-leading .346 with 32 homers and 80 RBIs, then helped the Red Sox to the World Series title. He hit .295 last season with 29 homers and 80 RBIs, according to baseballreference.com, an online stat aggregator.

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The 27-year-old has lead Major League Baseball in runs scored the last two seasons, crossing home plate 135 and 129 times, respectively. He has also won three Silver Slugger Awards.

The Red Sox will now turn their attention to the start of the 2020 season, which begins as pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training in Fort Myers, Fla. on February 13. The rest of the team will also make their way to ‘Fenway South’ on February 18. Opening Day for the club is scheduled for March 26 in Toronto, while Fenway Park will see its first regular-season game on April 2 against the Chicago White Sox.

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