Los Angeles Dodgers: Making sense of a Mookie Betts-David Price trade
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Dodgers have been fairly inactive this offseason but it appears as if something huge could be in the works for the Boys in Blue.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have made one signing this offseason, signing Blake Treinen to a one-year, $10 million contract. Outside of that, the Dodgers have not made any improvements or additions to the team in an offseason where there has been plenty of movement.
The team has definitely been in the rumor mill, though, The Dodgers reportedly was one of the final teams in on Gerrit Cole and have been linked to other free agents, such as Josh Donaldson. Most notably, the Dodgers have been connected to both Francisco Lindor and Mookie Betts via trade.
Things started to sizzle down around the holidays but right after the new year, the Dodgers were back in the rumor mill. Jon Morosi of MLB.com reported that trade talks between the Dodgers and Red Sox are at least as engaged as the trade talks for Francisco Lindor and that it is more likely that the Dodgers get Betts than Lindor.
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Morosi also reported that Betts possibly won’t be alone in going to Los Angeles, with other players potentially going to the Dodgers as well. If the Dodgers were to acquire another player in a trade then southpaw starter David Price is the name worth mentioning.
Price has been in the rumor mill himself because of his large contract and the fact that the Red Sox are looking to shed payroll. Price has three more years under contract and is making $32 million per season.
While some may scoff at the idea of adding Price for $32 million per season, in this instance, it makes a lot of sense for the Dodgers to take on Price’s contract. The team certainly can afford it and if it is the price of getting Betts, then so be it.
The Dodgers would be taking on just shy of $60 million in this trade as Spotrac estimates that Betts will get $27.7 million in arbitration this season. Right now, the Dodgers are about $37 million under the luxury tax threshold with estimated arbitration numbers.
There are some contracts that would have to go back to Boston. The first that jumps off that bat is Joc Pederson. Pederson would replace Betts in Boston but would not tie the team down long-term as he is a free agent after this season. Pederson is estimated to make $8.5 million this season, bringing the Dodgers to around $15 million over the luxury tax threshold.
Trading A.J. Pollock could get the team back down and that definitely is a possibility as the Dodgers could run an outfield of Cody Bellinger, Mookie Betts and Alex Verdugo.
The Dodgers could also just eat the tax for going over $206 million and have a payroll around $220 million this season knowing that more money is going to be freed up soon. Between Justin Turner, Clayton Kershaw, Kenley Jansen and Treinen, the Dodgers are freeing up $79 million over the next two years.
That means that the Dodgers could look to extend Betts at around $35 million per season. Adding Price does not hurt the team’s long-term plans either, as his contract frees up after three years, which would not restrict the team from extending Cody Bellinger, Walker Buehler or even Max Muncy if warranted.
Yes, the Los Angeles Dodgers would be taking on a lot of money immediately, but with so much money coming off the books in the near future, the team could absolutely afford to pay Price for three seasons.
Plus, Price is still a solid pitcher. Having him be the third-best pitcher, especially as he will probably be better in the National League, is a great thing.
The best part is that since the Dodgers are taking on so much salary they would not need to send a huge haul. A package of Pederson, Keibert Ruiz and Jeter Downs (who was acquired in the Yasiel Puig trade) might just be enough for one year of Betts and Price’s contract.
Next. Why Alex Verdugo is a huge difference-maker. dark
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure and in this case, the Los Angeles Dodgers can absolutely throw David Price into a trade for Mookie Betts to make it happen. Will they? We will have to wait and see.