Boston getting cold feet - Graterol's health puts blockbuster on pause

[bighat]

Couple links about this story this AM.

 

Phil Miller of the Strib says: "The Twins’ piece of the blockbuster Mookie Betts trade has reportedly stalled the rest of the deal, plunging Minnesota’s acquisition of Dodgers righthander Kenta Maeda into doubt on Wednesday, a major league source confirmed.

 

Talks are continuing, the source said, and the deal could still be salvaged. But a review of Brusdar Graterol’s medical records by the Red Sox has raised issues that the teams are working to resolve."

 

More below:

 

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/28644920/prospect-health-holds-3-team-trade-involving-mookie-betts

 

http://www.startribune.com/trade-of-brusdar-graterol-called-into-doubt-because-of-medical-records/567611702/

[Doctor Gast]

Thanks for the heads up, Bighat.This is ridiculous, everything is public when everything was signed. Graterol is still worth much more than what we got. Boston wanted to get Graterol for free like they got David Ortiz. If the Twins cough up more for Graterol, I`d be really mad. Boston by far got the better of the deal & still they complain. If they they think this was a bad deal why didn`t they except Maeda (low cost) instead of Graterol, because they`re not stupid. Hope it all blow up in their face. 

[bighat]

I agree -

 

I wonder, did the Twins officially send Brusdar to the Dodgers? If so, it should be on the Dodgers to throw in an extra prospect, not the Twins.

 

I am sure Los Angeles is very motivated to make this deal happen, I would hope they can throw in a few lottery tickets to save the deal from going off the rails.

[howieramone2]

This has nothing to do with David Ortiz. This goes back 100 years to Babe Ruth.

[LewFordLives]

I agree with the above post. It should not be on the Twins to add more to this deal. (I don't care for it to begin with.) If Boston is that concerned let them have Maeda and we'll keep Brusdar.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

 I wonder if the Red Sox are getting so much flak from fans and from  whom ever, that they are having second thoughts. The Red Sox really got very little from this trade of one of the top 5 players in all of baseball plus a former All Star, albeit a former All Star with a huge salary. I just thought the Red Sox could have gotten more...

[Dman]

Well if they thought Brusdar was starter material I can see why they have cold feet knowing he is likely reliever material.  The way I see it we traded Brusdar to the Dodgers so that they could flip him to Boston so hopefully the Dodgers can throw in a lottery ticket or two and take some of heat off of the Boston FO.  If not then I guess Mookie stays in Boston and the trade dies.  Will have to wait and see how this works out.

 

Personally I think Bloom should have asked for some Lotto picks from the beginning.  It would have just made the trade look better even if it wasn't that much better.  Friedman can afford to drop another prospect or two into this deal as they have a strong farm system and a strong MLB team.

[nicksaviking]

 

Well if they thought Brusdar was starter material I can see why they have cold feet knowing he is likely reliever material.  The way I see it we traded Brusdar to the Dodgers so that they could flip him to Boston so hopefully the Dodgers can throw in a lottery ticket or two and take some of heat off of the Boston FO.  If not then I guess Mookie stays in Boston and the trade dies.  Will have to wait and see how this works out.

 

Personally I think Bloom should have asked for some Lotto picks from the beginning.  It would have just made the trade look better even if it wasn't that much better.  Friedman can afford to drop another prospect or two into this deal as they have a strong farm system and a strong MLB team.

 

They didn't need medical reports for that, at least half of the prospect gurus have literature that claims relief is his likely destination. 

 

Though some of them are behind paywalls and we now know Boston is broke, so maybe that's the issue.

[Flipper1a]

Biggest issue is Stripling and Maeda going out and both have very affordable contracts.....the BOSOX are saying whoa, with them we could compete at cheap prices.

 

The haul the Angels received (Joc $8 Million and Stripling $2 Million) is pissing the Bosox off I believe.  Then you add Maeda at $3-10 Million....

 

Boston is 16 million under the tax now...they could have afforded all three.

[Dman]

 

They didn't need medical reports for that, at least half of the prospect gurus have literature that claims relief is his likely destination. 

 

Though some of them are behind paywalls and we now know Boston is broke, so maybe that's the issue.

So for Boston what was the thinking?  Was Bostons goal to just replace Mookie's position and grab a cheaper starter to replace Price?  Is that why they just got the two prospects?  They couldn't afford to take Maeda for Price and also pay down half of Prices salary because they might have payed essentially the same amount as keeping price and Prices numbers are not that different from Maeda's?  The Dodgers didn't want to give up one of their prized pitching prospects or needed to make room in their rotation so were looking for a third team who would want Maeda for a stud young pitching starter to satisfy Boston and Graterol was the choice? 

 

Is the reason there were only two prospects in the deal because Verdugo although not Betts but still very, very good and with 5 years of control to Mookies 1 plus the added salary the Dodgers have to take on makes this essentially a one for one deal?  Also Boston is asking the Dodgers to take on even more salary by forcing them to take Price?  It seems like LA is giving up quite a bit for one year of Mookie Betts to me.  Even if Graterol might only be a reliever hasn't LA given up enough for one year of Betts?  I don't know if Boston doesn't like that deal I say let them choke on it.

[Rosterman]

 

Thanks for the heads up, Bighat.This is ridiculous, everything is public when everything was signed. Graterol is still worth much more than what we got. Boston wanted to get Graterol for free like they got David Ortiz. If the Twins cough up more for Graterol, I`d be really mad. Boston by far got the better of the deal & still they complain. If they they think this was a bad deal why didn`t they except Maeda (low cost) instead of Graterol, because they`re not stupid. Hope it all blow up in their face. 

I'm sorry. It was the Twins who decided to non-tender Ortiz because they didn't think he was worth the arbitration salary. Considering all the teams that passed on him, the Red Sox were the only ones willing to reach a contract agreement with the guy. They took the gamble and won. The Twins kept LeCroy!

[USAFChief]

 

Biggest issue is Stripling and Maeda going out and both have very affordable contracts.....the BOSOX are saying whoa, with them we could compete at cheap prices.

 

The haul the Angels received (Joc $8 Million and Stripling $2 Million) is pissing the Bosox off I believe.  Then you add Maeda at $3-10 Million....

 

Boston is 16 million under the tax now...they could have afforded all three.

So your theory is Boston didn't know Maeda's contract was cheap until they read about it on MLBTradeRumors after the deal was made?

 

Because otherwise, why wouldn't they just have asked LA for Maeda instead of Graterol?

[Doctor Gast]

 

I'm sorry. It was the Twins who decided to non-tender Ortiz because they didn't think he was worth the arbitration salary. Considering all the teams that passed on him, the Red Sox were the only ones willing to reach a contract agreement with the guy. They took the gamble and won. The Twins kept LeCroy!

I know that. The fact is that Twins goofed terribly & Boston took full advantage of it w/ Ortiz. Twins goofed again, (they advertised Graterol as BP not continue him as SP in the process), & they want to capitalize even more than they already had. If Maeda was such a great deal for the Twins why didn`t the Sox jump all over him, he`s an "ace" ready to pitch 170+ innings! The fact is Graterol is an impact pitcher where ever he pitches where as Maeda is not!

[SpicyGarvSauce]

Mark Feinsand just tweeted that the teams are hopeful that the deal will be completed today.

[nicksaviking]

I know no one will be happy if the Twins have to concede more, but they have to get this deal done now if they too see Graterol's future as in the bullpen, and it seems they do.

 

Boston publicly waiving around this red flag is going to crush Graterol's stock; baring an immediate return to the rotation and an absolute lights out performance in Rochester to start the year, his value has already peaked.

[nicksaviking]

But if the Twins feel this is all just a ploy by Bloom to get more prospects or eat less money, the Twins should let it be known that they plan on calling up his old team in TB and see if they'd be interested in discussing a deal for pitching that includes, but may not be limited to, Graterol.

[akmanak]

This is the reason why I was dumbfounded by the negative reaction of this trade. The guy's arm is going to fall off due to that delivery.

[Flipper1a]

 

So your theory is Boston didn't know Maeda's contract was cheap until they read about it on MLBTradeRumors after the deal was made?

 

Because otherwise, why wouldn't they just have asked LA for Maeda instead of Graterol?

 

The Joc/Stripling going to the Angels is the issue.  Angels grabbed those two for nothing; Boston isn't getting much back while paying salary also.....Verdugo/Graterol versus Joc/Stripling?  Angels are only sending prospects back.

 

Reminds me of TB/MN/Pitt

We traded for Odorizzi with a middle prospect.....TB received Glasnow and Meadows for Archer....

[SomeGuy]

The Twins should have some leverage here. Boston really wants to cut payroll before the season starts and LA needs mookie for their all in push especially after already trading Joc Peterson. The Twins should threaten to walk away.

[nicksaviking]

 

The Joc/Stripling going to the Angels is the issue.  Angels grabbed those two for nothing; Boston isn't getting much back while paying salary also.....Verdugo/Graterol versus Joc/Stripling?  Angels are only sending prospects back.

 

Reminds me of TB/MN/Pitt

We traded for Odorizzi with a middle prospect.....TB received Glasnow and Meadows for Archer....

 

Peterson is a free agent after this year though, so I think his value is rather low despite his improved numbers. If Boston is rebuilding they'd have little interest.

 

Now if everyone is willing to cut out the Angels, send Peterson or Stripling to the Twins, Rosario to Boston and Boston sending some other parts back toward LA/MN, there might be some additional fun to play around with in this trade scenario.

[nicksaviking]

 

The Twins should have some leverage here. Boston really wants to cut payroll before the season starts and LA needs mookie for their all in push especially after already trading Joc Peterson. The Twins should threaten to walk away.

 

I actually think LA has the most to lose. They're the team that everyone is most excited for regarding this trade.

 

If the Twins threaten to walk I think there's a good chance LA lets them and they make up for Graterol with something they previously weren't willing to part with.

[beckmt]

 

I actually think LA has the most to lose. They're the team that everyone is most excited for regarding this trade.

 

If the Twins threaten to walk I think there's a good chance LA lets them and they make up for Graterol with something they previously weren't willing to part with.

Boston got lambasted for this trade, they now want more to save face, probably because the owner insisted they get under luxury tax and this was the only way Boston could do this.  Maybe LA has to take on more money or send another lottery ticket (they have plenty).  Would not feel that Twins should walk away, but Boston should know better.

[Flipper1a]

 

Peterson is a free agent after this year though, so I think his value is rather low despite his improved numbers. If Boston is rebuilding they'd have little interest.

 

Now if everyone is willing to cut out the Angels, send Peterson or Stripling to the Twins, Rosario to Boston and Boston sending some other parts back toward LA/MN, there might be some additional fun to play around with in this trade scenario.

________________

+1

 

Joc even on a walk year could fill in Betts ##s.....they aren't rebuilding (they re-signed Moreland, added Perez from the Twins last year, they have an old roster). It was a salary dump. They would have saved face, $$$, and still challenged this year.  Stripling is a very good pitcher as is Maeda.  They only balked after being chastised; now they want to change the deal.

 

 

[mnfireman]

Boston had to have done their due diligence and known how Graterol was preparing for the upcoming season (especially since the Twins announced it). I don't think it has anything to do with injury, injury history, etc... as Graterol pitched at the end of last season and in the playoffs (touching 100+). I think it is cold feet on return (no immediate starter to fill Price's spot) and angry fan base (trading Betts).

Los Angeles and Minnesota should stand firm and let Boston catch all the flak for trying to renege on a trade (from the fans, the commissioners office and the player's union).

[nicksaviking]

 

Boston got lambasted for this trade, they now want more to save face, probably because the owner insisted they get under luxury tax and this was the only way Boston could do this.  Maybe LA has to take on more money or send another lottery ticket (they have plenty).  Would not feel that Twins should walk away, but Boston should know better.

 

I'm not worried the Twins will walk away, I'm more worried that the Dodgers will tell the Twins "Take a hike, we can handle this ourselves."

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I'm not worried the Twins will walk away, I'm more worried that the Dodgers will tell the Twins "Take a hike, we can handle this ourselves."

That could be a concern. The Dodgers don't want to part with May, but they have their own 50 FV SP prospect at AA per Fangraphs. They could send him and a lesser piece to Boston, if necessary, and/or take less cash from Boston, and keep Maeda.

[gunnarthor]

I'm not worried at all. If the trade falls through, we get Graterol back. LA and Boston have things to lose. We'll be fine either way.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I'm not worried at all. If the trade falls through, we get Graterol back. LA and Boston have things to lose. We'll be fine either way.

Graterol with a damaged trade reputation...

[Battle ur tail off]

 

Graterol with a damaged trade reputation...

 

Exactly. Not good. Now that these reports are out there, it has to get done. 

 

I'm not in love with this Maeda cat, but if Graterol isn't worth anything, then we really don't want him back. Especially if there are all these concerns. My guess, that is the reason the Twins were willing to trade him. They saw him as at best a bullpen piece. A bullpen piece that as of right now, has 1 pitch to throw and a good chance of being injured. 

 

I would have loved them to package up a guy like Graterol with another guy in our top 10 and go out and get more of a front end starter. That said, this cat might be one of those diamonds in the rough. 

[Doctor Gast]

 

I'm not worried at all. If the trade falls through, we get Graterol back. LA and Boston have things to lose. We'll be fine either way.

Absolutely, both LA & Boston have a lot to lose. LA gets 1yr rental from Betts before he`s FA, so they can try to steal the WS away from NYY & appease their fan base & a fading ace (Price). Price`s contract liability basically cancels out Betts trading value except Boston will help pay down Price`s salary. Boston releases itself from a stiff luxury tax get 2 high prospect to boot (not bad). If this deal doesn`t go thru LA will be heart broken again this PS & Boston will have to pay the tax. MN will find another #3 starter somewhere else, maybe even more agreeable & they change their approach on Graterol & not advertise him as a reliever but a promising starter that can be used as an opener & reliever