The Debacle

Anyone who has not been living under a rock knows about the Redsox – Dodger Trade Debacle. The Red Sox traded David Price and Mookie Betts to the Dodgers and paid half of Price’s salary, while the Dodgers sent Kenta Maeda to the Twins and the Twins were to send flamethrower Brusdar Graterol back to the Red Sox.

In a separate move, the Dodgers will send Joc Pederson and Ross Stripling to the Angels for infielder Luis Rengifo and two other prospects. None of that has been formally announced, however. The Betts/Price trade is not yet official and the Pederson/Stripling trade has not been consummated either.

The media immediately crucified the Red Sox and said that Andrew Friedman had committed the greatest robbery in the history of baseball. It would appear that Red Sox Owner, John Henry then told Chaim Bloom (Cheif Baseball Officer of the Red Sox) that he needed to get more back in the deal. Thus… there is a stalemate!

Let’s not forget what John Henry said early in the offseason:

“We need to be under the CBT. That was something we’ve known for more than a year now.”

Then, a couple of months later, he denied he said what he said. I am sure that Bloom informed Henry of the trade and then when the media uproar started, Henry demanded more in return. I don’t know that for sure, but John Henry obviously is not always true to his word.

Tony Massarotti of 985theSportsHub.com wrote this about Bloom:

“All of this brings us back to Bloom, who was hired last fall to do what Dave Dombrowski did not – specifically, to formulate and execute a longer-term plan that actually has some vision. Sure, Dombrowski won a World Series here, but he generally did it with someone else’s prospects and someone else’s money. He wasn’t exactly an idea guy. Most any of us could have identified the players Dombrowski traded and traded for because they were all on a chart of the best players or prospects available. All he ever did was play the hits.”

I will blame John Henry for all this until I see evidence to the contrary. I think Chaim Bloom did what he thought was right and Henry intervened. We may never know. I don’t always agree with Tony Clark of the MLBPA, but when he weighed in on the Dodger – Redsox Trade Debacle, he was spot on:

“The proposed trades between the Dodgers, Red Sox, Twins, and Angels need to be resolved without further delay. The events of this last week have unfairly put several Players’ lives in a state of limbo.

The unethical leaking of medical information as well as the perversion of the salary arbitration process serve as continued reminders that too often Players are treated as commodities by those running the game.”

Scott Boras, who is Brusdar Graterol’s agent says this:

“They’re relying on a cursory medical record review, yet noted orthopedic doctors who saw him say there’s no issue going forward.”

Again, consider the source.

The Dodgers are indeed upset, as they felt they had an agreement with Boston and the Twins. Angels owner Arte Moreno is said to be furious that the hold-up of the first deal has left his organization in flux . Maybe Commissioner Manfred can’t do anything about this, but when punishment needs to be handed down for the alleged cheating, his hand needs to be heavier!

Bob Nightengale predicted that the trade would become official yesterday. As usual, he was wrong. The Red Sox are demanding anther Top 10 Twins prospect and of course, the Twins are balking. That means that the Dodgers may have to cough up a Top Prospect, such as Tony Gonsolin.

If I were Andrew Friedman, I would walk. See you later, Bye! Leave the Red Sox to their misery and sign Betts after the season. Refuse to deal with the Cheaters, Andrew! They are still at it…

Other Dodger News

• The Dodgers defeated Joc Pederson is salary arbitration, successfully arguing that he was a platoon player.
• After signing Max Muncy to an extension, that can keep him in LA for four more years, the Dodgers also extended Chris Taylor, buying out his last two years of arbitration.
• I will be in Phoenix next Thursday and Friday when Pitchers and Catchers Report but may not have time to stop by Camelback as I am at the Arizona Cannabis Expo. It’s just business… really!

Today’s Music