Hot Stove Lunch: Is a trade involving Mookie Betts gaining momentum?

For much of the winter, I was convinced that Mookie Betts would be in a Red Sox uniform on Opening Day.

Now, I'm not so sure.

I believed that the Sox would hold onto Betts -- at least to start the year. I thought they might make one more (public) offer on a contract extension, and then re-assess where they stood in July at the trade deadline. I found it hard to believe that, coming off a disappointing season, the team would effectively wave the white flag on the 2020 season by trading away its best player.

Now, I'm not so sure.



Spring training is just two weeks away, and yet talk of a Betts deal is heating up. Talks are ongoing with both the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers, with the Arizona Diamondbacks perhaps on the periphery. It's probably not a coincidence that the teams are all housed in the same division.

That way, the Red Sox can create some leverage. Surely, the Padres, who haven't made the postseason since 2006, don't want to see the Dodgers get better. Neither do the Diamondbacks. And the Dodgers, having won the division in each of the last seven seasons, want to end their own championship drought which stands at 32 years.

According to multiple reports, the trade talks with the Padres and Dodgers have taken different paths. The Padres want the Sox to assume Wil Myers and his contract (three years, $61 million) as part of a deal. In so doing, the Sox might also land better prospects. The discussions with the Dodgers, meanwhile, have no such big salary attached; instead, the Dodgers could give the Red Sox a young major leaguer (Alex Verudgo?) and a prospect.

In both cases, the Padres and Dodgers have taken their top prospects off the table. In San Diego, that means no MacKenzie Gore or Luis Patino; with the Dodgers, that means no Dustin May or Gavin Lux. That's what happens when you try to move a player -- no matter how talented -- with just one year of control remaining.

There are, however, plenty of other very good prospects from which to choose in both organizations.

None of which is to suggest that a deal is imminent. But the very fact that teams are still talking to the Sox so close to the start of spring training suggests that there's at least some reason for optimism that a deal could eventually be worked out.

Stay tuned.

Elsewhere:

AL EAST 

Jim Bowden lists the Yankees as a dark horse candidate to land Nolan Arenado.

A top Rays pitching prospect is hoping for a comeback.

The trade which sent Marcus Stroman to the Mets is working out for the Jays.

Could Andrew Cashner return to Baltimore?

AL CENTRAL

The Indians may have found a trade partner over the weekend.

The Twins are hoping that Josh Donaldson defies expectations for older players.

Some questions about the White Sox as spring training nears.

The Tigers are counting on some improvement behind the plate.

The Royals are, not surprisingly, rooting for the Chiefs in the Super Bowl.

AL WEST 

A look at some young first base options for the Astros.

Three Rangers prospects cracked a Top 100 list.

Whistleblower Mike Fiers got a nice ovation.

The Mariners signed a former top prospect.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

The Reds won the Nicholas Castellanos sweepstakes.