Hot Stove Lunch: Red Sox trade hits a snag

When there wasn't official confirmation of the three-team, five-player trade between the Red Sox, Dodgers and Twins, speculation began that perhaps the deal had hit it a snag. Even accounting for the magnitude of the transaction -- involving three franchises in three different time zone -- it seemed suspicious that it was taking so long to be made official.

Sure enough, early this morning came word from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic that the Red Sox didn't like some things they saw with the medicals on Brusdar Graterol and things are under review. The Sox medical staff is concerned that Graterol might not be durable enough to serve as a starting pitcher -- which was the Sox' plan for him.

Graterol has had a number of injuries in his young career. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2016 and then missed time last spring with a right shoulder impingement.

For now, the rest of the deal doesn't seem in jeopardy. Things could be remedied if the Sox get some additional money included, or perhaps, a different pitching prospect, though it's unknown whether the money and/or player would come from the Dodgers or Twins.

These things tend to get complicated.

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NATIONAL LEAGUE

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