The Los Angeles Dodgers have inquired about practically every star player reportedly on the market this winter, but they are also only willing to go so far.
Los Angeles has made top prospect Gavin Lux essentially untouchable in any trade. According to Jon Morosi of MLB.com, the Cleveland Indians' insistence on obtaining Lux in any deal for shortstop Francisco Lindor has created some stagnation in talks between the two teams.
Conversely, Morosi reported the Dodgers have become more engaged with the Boston Red Sox and star right fielder Mookie Betts:
As a result, sources say the Dodgers’ negotiations with the Red Sox about acquiring Mookie Betts have become at least as frequent — and perhaps even more involved — than their talks with the Indians about Lindor.
The Dodgers’ conversations with the Red Sox are said to be more dynamic than the Dodgers-Indians talks, because Boston appears less insistent on Lux. Also, there exists a very real possibility that a Dodgers-Red Sox deal would include multiple players heading to Los Angeles.
The Red Sox need to cut payroll and rebuild their farm, but it appears that new general manager Chaim Bloom is more concerned with the former.
J.D. Martinez's decision to accept his player option for 2020 elevated Boston's estimated CBT value to over $241 million, well above the luxury tax threshold. Betts is projected to earn $27.7 million, and Morosi also reported the Dodgers may be willing to include Price in any deal for Betts while taking on some of his salary, though the Red Sox will still have to pay some of it down.
LA and general manager Andrew Friedman are clearly trying to make some kind of splash and shake things up after a heartbreaking postseason defeat this past season.
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