FORT MYERS, FLA. – If a blockbuster trade involving Red Sox star outfielder Mookie Betts is to be made, the Twins might not be a part of it.
According to two sources with knowledge of talks, the Twins were very pessimistic about their end of a proposed three-way deal involving the Red Sox and Dodgers, a deal in which the Twins were to receive righthander Kenta Maeda from the Dodgers while sending righthanded flamethrower Brusdar Graterol to the Red Sox.
News about the deal broke last Tuesday as the clubs exchanged medical records, a standard procedure before trades being finalized. Boston, after examining Graterol’s medical history, expressed concerns that the young righthander’s long-term role would be as a reliever and not a starter. The Red Sox asked the Twins to add an additional top 12 prospect to the deal.
While the Twins were excited about adding Maeda to their rotation, they were against sweetening the deal too much. After more conversations proved fruitless, the Twins on Saturday dug in, hoping the situation is resolved with no more delays.
Meanwhile, Graterol, looking relaxed and smiling as he spoke with coaches and teammates, threw in the bullpen for about 12 minutes on Saturday at the CenturyLink Sports Complex. He even flipped a baseball to an onlooker following his session. The Twins planned to use Graterol in the bullpen, where his 102 miles per hour fastball will be an asset.
Graterol was not made available to comment after his session; pitchers and catchers officially report to camp Wednesday.
The Red Sox also have received a lot of fan backlash for trading the 2018 American League MVP and All-Star pitcher David Price in a salary dump for what would amount to two prospects.
The Twins’ role would have allowed Boston to send Betts, Price and cash to Los Angeles in exchange for outfield prospect Alex Verdugo; Maeda would come to the Twins and Graterol would go to Boston. Betts is due $ 47 million in his final season before free agency, and Price has $ 728 million left on the three years of his contract. The Dodgers, in anticipation of that trade going through, lined up a deal with the Angels in which they send outfielder Joc Pederson and righthander Ross Stripling across town for infielder Luis Rengifo.
The Twins pulling out could topple all those plans in Jenga-like fashion, unless the Dodgers and Red Sox find a replacement for the Twins. Media reports during the past week indicated the entire deal is unlikely to fall through, but as time wore on, it became clear something was clearly wrong.
Those close to the situation expressed their frustration as the drama surrounding one of the game’s elite players unfolded. Angels owner Artie Moreno, according to reports, expressed anger about his deal being delayed by the Betts saga.
Scott Boras, Graterol’s agent, took issue with Boston’s concerns about the health of his client.
“To suggest that this player is not healthy going forward, or has any form of substantive medical defect that would in any way damage his career, all of that is false. This is a scant supposition created by medical review, by someone who has never seen him physically, “Boras said in a statement.
Tony Clark, head of the player’s association, even released a statement. “The events of this last week have unfairly put several Players’ lives in a state of limbo,” he said, demanding a quick resolution.
Despite reports about the proposed deal dominating sports news talk for several days, Graterol still worked out at the Twins facility last week. One person who was around Graterol during the past week said he had been professional in getting his work done but it was clear the developments were on his mind.
If the Twins keep Graterol, they will not land Maeda, who was 27 -8 with a 4. 12 ERA last season and is – 47 with a 3. 823 ERA in his career with the Dodgers. He has an average fastball but a changeup that elicits swings and misses, and the Twins felt their speedy outfield was a good match for the flyball pitcher.
The Twins’ willingness to play a role in the megadeal in order to land a pitcher like Maeda shows they have not finished upgrading the rotation. They have righthanders Jose Berrios and Jake Odorizzi at the top of the rotation with free agent Homer Bailey currently set to be the No. 3 starter. Righthander Michael Pineda, after he completes his suspension for testing positive for a banned diuretic, and lefthander Rich Hill, once he’s done with rehabilitation following elbow surgery, will fill out the rotation.
On paper, it’s a capable starting five topped by two pitchers who were named to the All-Star Game last season. Yet the Twins stepped forward as suitors for Maeda. That suggests they will have conversations about any quality starter who lands on the trade block between now and the July (trade deadline.)
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