MLB Trade Rumors and News: All of this is bonkers but we’re here for it

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• The monster trade that sent Mookie Betts to the Dodgers last week captivated the entire baseball world given the names and teams involved. We haven’t seen a trade of that magnitude in quite some time. Yesterday, however, it was revealed that the reason why the deal hasn’t been made official yet is due to issues with the medical review of one of the prospects in the trade, Brusdar Graterol. And while it was far more likely to be adjusted than to be scrapped altogether, it left a lot of confusion, turmoil, and more confusion in its wake, with different reports coming out each minute of who was in and who was out. Pretty much the worst game of hokey pokey ever.
• Now, however, we can say with assured confidence (sorta?) that Mookie is finally on the move to the Dodgers...the deal just has a few tweaks to it. While Mookie and David Price are still apart of the deal, the Twins have officially altered their end of the bargain. While it was initially reported that Brusdar Graterol wouldn’t make it to Los Angeles, it turns out he’ll just have company. In addition to the pitching prospect, the Dodgers will also receive outfield prospect Luke Raley and the 67th pick in the 2020 draft. Talk about taking the money and running. Maeda will still head to the Twins, and the pot is a little sweeter now for Boston, who will still receive Alex Verdugo, but will also add catching prospect Connor Wong and infield phenom, Jeter Downs. Yes, a guy named Jeter is now on the Red Sox. Cue the alternate universe theories.
• Some guys are just dealt more bad luck than others. Case in point: James Paxton. While healthy, he has shown the ability to be one of the better pitchers in the league...but he has never really shown the ability to consistently stay on the field. Yesterday, it was announced that he had to undergo surgery to remove a cyst on his spine and will miss the next three or four months.
• The addition of Betts further solidified a Los Angeles outfield mix that also includes Cody Bellinger and A.J. Pollock as starters with Chris Taylor, Kiké Hernández, Matt Beaty, and Kyle Garlick as potential depth options, so the Dodgers turned around and made a deal with their SoCal neighbors on Tuesday night, trading Joc Pederson to the Angels in a move that net them infielder Luis Rengifo. There's only one little problem with that. Much like my high hopes that a guy who ate his burrito with a spoon would someday become a sensitive and caring significant other, this deal has unfortunately come crashing down and shattered on the floor. Unlike my past relationship, there is, however, still hope that something good could come out of this before Opening Day. With Pederson (and myself) back on the market, don’t be surprised if Los Angeles receives more offers on the outfielder.
• In what was the biggest move made by an NL West team Tuesday until about 9:00 p.m. ET, the Giants signed versatile infielder and lefty masher Wilmer Flores to a two-year deal with an option for a third year. Flores is a lifetime .387/.439/.639 hitter in 132 plate appearances against the Giants, so they’ll be glad to have him on their side in 2020 and beyond.
• The Astros have been dealing with a mess of their own making this offseason. After snagging Dusty Baker to fill in as their skipper in the wake of the sign stealing scandal that rocked the entire league, the organization made the move to bring on former Rays executive James Click to be their new general manager for what is going to be a very important time in the franchise’s history.
• The Rays have acquired Manuel Margot and Logan Driscoll from Padres in exchange for Emilio Pagán, per report. While Tampa Bay reinforces their strong hold in centerfield and added some depth behind the plate, the Padres will strengthen what it already a solid bullpen. It feels like everyone is just finding what makes them a good team and mercilessly adding onto it in the hopes of never running out of such talent. This begs a very important question: are the Rays okay????
• The Mariners are having to look long-term for their playoff aspirations, but things appear to be going well for them on that front as they have some exciting young talent on the way. To prepare themselves down the road, they locked up their durable young lefty Marco Gonzales with a four-year contract extension.
• The Cubs’ brazen use of MLB’s service time rules in order to gain an extra year of control over Kris Bryant was about as obvious of a case of service time manipulation as a team can do without outright saying that they were holding him down in the minors for that purpose. As a result, a decision on Bryant’s grievance regarding the matter took longer than expected, but he still came out on the losing side.
• If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it: The Red Sox are bringing back veteran first baseman Mitch Moreland, signing him to his third short-term deal in four years. This contract, which guarantees Moreland $3 million, is a one-year pact but includes a club option for 2021.
• The Diamondbacks have acquired Starling Marte from the Pirates. In exchange for the two-time Gold Glover, Pittsburgh will be receiving infield prospect Liover Peguero, right-handed pitching prospect Brennan Malone, and international bonus pool space. The Diamondbacks, meanwhile, seem to be beyond determined this winter.
• The Reds have become another odd but not confusing force of nature this offseason. Their latest endeavor is signing Nick Castellanos to a four-year deal. This powerhouse at the plate is set to make $64M for his time in Cincy. He joins Mike Moustaskas, Shogo Akiyama, and Wade Miley on the list of guys you’ll spend 2020 repeating, “Oh right, he’s on the Reds now” about.
• Mitch Haniger’s breakout 2018 season now feels like it was a long time ago. After a 2019 season that was, by most accounts, disappointing and punctuated by a truly painful injury, Haniger was hoping that 2020 was going to be better. Unfortunately, an abdominal injury while working out is now leading to surgery and will keep him out for at least most of spring training.
• The Mets’ managerial situation got thrown into chaos when Carlos Beltran, who they hired earlier this offseason to manage the club, was a prominent character in MLB’s report on the Astros stealing signs in the regular season and postseason. The fallout ultimately included Beltran and the Mets parting ways. New York decided to look internally for another candidate, and they found their man as Luis Rojas was tabbed for the job.
• After losing Josh Donaldson to the Twins in free agency, the Braves added some punch back to their lineup, signing outfielder Marcell Ozuna to a one-year, $18 million deal. They’ll be hoping that Ozuna returns to the elite offensive form he displayed in his final season with the Marlins in 2017 — and so will Ozuna, who’s betting on himself in hopes of following Donaldson’s lead and earning a lucrative long-term deal next offseason.
• Did the Reds and Diamondbacks improve enough to make the playoffs? Please do not tell the Reds anything otherwise, we are scared of what other lengths they’d be willing to get there.
• In a rather unexpected twist, Josh Donaldson signed a four-year, $92 million deal with the Twins, padding Minnesota’s status as AL Central frontrunners and solidifying their lineup as one of the best in baseball. Donaldson’s deal is the second-richest ever for a player 33 or older, trailing only Kevin Brown’s seven-year, $105 million deal with the Dodgers.
• Max Muncy’s extension helps the argument for new service time rules. Late bloomer, shmate loomer.
• How will teams use their 26th roster spot? Someone sign Gritty, you cowards.