3 Dodgers Prospects Red Sox Should Target in Mookie Betts Trade
By Jerry Trotta
As MLB's offseason hits its latter stages, the trade rumors regarding Mookie Betts are beginning to surface in bunches, indicating that the Boston Red Sox intend on offloading him prior to the start of the 2019 campaign.
That buzz only gained more traction after it was reported that the former AL MVP and the Red Sox were more than $100 million apart in contract negotiations.
Given the flood of talent in their farm system, the Los Angeles Dodgers appear in pole position to assemble an alluring trade package, even though their top-five prospects appear to be off limits.
The Mookie rumors are brutal. The Dodgers top 5 prospects are off limits and w/ SD you have to take back salary? They are just rumors, so who knows. But the Sox will 100% overspend on another FA in the next two off seasons to offset the bad PR if Mookie is gone.
— Russillo (@ryenarussillo) January 28, 2020
With that in mind, let's highlight a few names Boston should target.
3. C Diego Cartaya
The Dodgers are stacked at the catcher position in their farm system, and they only added to their riches when they landed Cartaya for $2.5 million as an international free agent out of Venezuela last summer. That could lead to LA being willing to part ways with Cartaya, who hit .281/.343/.432 with four home runs, 22 RBI, 12 doubles, and 36 runs scored in 185 at-bats as an 18-year-old. Those are astonishing numbers given his age, and the Red Sox should absolutely inquire about him. Cartaya might just be the guy to succeed Christian Vazquez in Beantown.
2. 2B Michael Busch
Busch went undrafted out of high school, but quickly emerged as one of the best hitters in college with UNC, and was selected No. 31 overall by the Dodgers in 2019. Busch could prove to be Boston's second baseman of the future, and we all know that's a position Boston has struggled to find production in since Dustin Pedroia's downfall.
1. RHP Tony Gonsolin
Gonsolin's talent and potential were on display after making his MLB debut in 2019. In over 40 innings, the 25-year-old right-hander went 4-2, alongside a 2.93 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 3.86 FIP. The Red Sox are desperate for young pitching, and Gonsolin could spearhead a movement of youthful arms.