The Los Angeles Dodgers have been engaged in trade talks with the Cleveland Indians for shortstop Francisco Lindor, but if they can't land Lindor, they will turn their full attention to Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts, according to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports.
Nightengale notes that the Dodgers and Red Sox have already held “exploratory talks” for Betts and says that Los Angeles has included shortstop Corey Seager in discussions.
However, the Dodgers seem reluctant to part with shortstop prospect Gavin Lux.
Betts is projected to earn somewhere between $27-30 million entering his final season before hitting free agency, and with the Red Sox having owned baseball's highest payroll at $244 million in 2018, he might become too expensive for Boston to retain.
The Red Sox, who will also be paying $13 million in luxury tax penalties, would prefer to slash payroll under the $208 million luxury tax threshold in 2020, which could mean the end of Betts' tenure in Beantown.
Betts is coming off a 2019 campaign in which he slashed .295/.391/.524 with 29 home runs, 40 doubles and 80 RBI en route to his fourth straight All-Star appearance. He also nabbed his fourth consecutive Gold Glove.
The 27-year-old was originally selected by Boston in the fifth round of the 2011 MLB Draft.
He made his big-league debut in 2014, and by 2016, he was an All-Star after slashing .318/.363/.534 with 31 long balls, 42 doubles and 113 RBI.
Betts then took home American League MVP honors in 2018, slashing .346/.438/.640 with 32 dingers, 47 doubles and 80 RBI, leading the Red Sox to a World Series title in the process.
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