While the speculation of the Boston Red Sox trimming salary been running around for months now, the Los Angeles Dodgers are also heating up in their pursuit of a star player.
The Dodgers could pursue a trade that involves pitcher David Price, as well as former MVP Mookie Betts, according to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, who adds that the Dodgers’ talks involving Betts have become “at least as frequent” as their discussions with the Indians regarding shortstop Francisco Lindor.
Sources: #Dodgers discussing Mookie Betts with the #RedSox at least as much as they are Francisco Lindor with the #Indians. Boston could combine Betts and Price in a deal that nets the Red Sox a prospect and salary relief. Story: https://t.co/j9mLE3LOX6 @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 2, 2020
The Dodgers have missed out on marquee free agents this winter, such as Madison Bumgarner, Gerrit Cole, Anthony Rendon, and Stephen Strasburg, among others. They have to make a splash after another disappointing run at the World Series title last October.
The Dodgers become a great match on paper due to their financial flexibility, as well as prospects and players they can offer in any deal with Boston. They may also turn to Boston due to Cleveland’s unwillingness to part ways with Francisco Lindor without Dodgers top prospect Gavin Lux as the two sides are in a stalemate. Los Angeles has plenty of other top young players to potentially deal, including pitchers Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin, catcher Keibert Ruiz and infielder Jeter Downs.
There are less than six weeks until pitchers and catchers report for spring training, and the Red Sox’ payroll currently sits at $232 million, which is substantially less than the below-$208 million goal they set back in September.
The return in a Betts-Price deal would have to involve salary relief, as well as a mix of prospects and players. With the clock running out on this offseason, both sides will like to move quickly in order to get a deal done, as the MLB season will wait for nobody.
