Report: Red Sox deal Mookie, Price to Dodgers in 3-team blockbuster

The Los Angeles Dodgers are finalizing a deal to acquire four-time All-Star outfielder Mookie Betts and veteran left-handed starter David Price from the Boston Red Sox in a three-team swap that also includes the Minnesota Twins, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.

Outfielder Alex Verdugo is expected to be a part of the return going to the Red Sox, according to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. The completion of the deal is pending medical reviews.

Minnesota is believed to be sending right-hander Brusdar Graterol to Boston while getting right-hander Kenta Maeda from Los Angeles, a source told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Additionally, the Red Sox are expected to be sending substantial money to the Dodgers to complete the trade, according to Rosenthal.

Betts won the AL MVP award in 2018 en route to securing a World Series championship with the Red Sox. The 27-year-old superstar hit .346 with 32 home runs, 47 doubles, 80 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases that year, cementing himself as one of baseball's brightest talents.

A four-time Gold Glove outfielder, Betts owns a career slash line of .301/.374/.519 with 139 home runs, 470 RBIs, and 126 stolen bases in 794 games over parts of six seasons.

Trade rumors swirled around Betts all offseason with him scheduled to hit free agency after the 2020 campaign and he's resisted overtures to sign an extension in Boston. He's slated to earn $27 million this coming season.

If the Dodgers are similarly unsuccessful in extending Betts, they will have the option to tender the outfielder a qualifying offer next offseason and receive a compensatory draft pick should he sign with another team.

The San Diego Padres were also mentioned as aggressive pursuers to land Betts leading up to the final deal reached on Tuesday.

With the Dodgers trading Joc Pederson to the Los Angeles Angels in a separate deal, Betts is projected to line up alongside A.J. Pollock and reigning NL MVP Cody Bellinger in the Dodgers' outfield. Max Muncy would then take over as the primary first baseman.

The lineup looks borderline superhuman:

Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler sure seems impressed.

Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez had other thoughts.

Price, 34, has three years and $96 million remaining on his contract. The 2012 AL Cy Young winner has had a tumultuous four-year tenure in Boston rife with injuries and media confrontation. All told, Price went 46-24 with a 3.84 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 588 innings with the Red Sox.

The rotation looks like it will be an embarrassment of riches. Next to Price, the Dodgers also boast Buehler, Clayton Kershaw, Ross Stripling, Julio Urias, Dustin May, Jimmy Nelson, and Alex Wood as options to start.

Verdugo was long touted as a top prospect before settling in for his first full season with the club in 2019. The 23-year-old hit .294/.342/.475 with 12 home runs and 44 RBIs in 106 games last season.

Meanwhile, Maeda has primarily served as a starting pitcher in four seasons with the Dodgers. The 31-year-old has gone 47-35 with a 3.87 ERA and 1.15 WHIP over 589 innings with the club. He joins a Twins rotation featuring Jose Berrios and Jake Odorizzi, and one that will eventually add Michael Pineda and Rich Hill. Pineda will finish serving a PED-related suspension over the season's first 39 games and Hill is expected to be available in June as he works his way back from elbow surgery.

Graterol, the 21-year-old Venezuelan, made his MLB debut last September and pitched exclusively out of the Twins' bullpen. He is armed with a nasty 101-mph sinker, and was expected to eventually join Minnesota's rotation.