Buster Olney Reveals Red Sox Current Ask in a Mookie Betts-David Price Deal
The Boston Red Sox have made it pretty clear that Mookie Betts is not in the team's long-term plans, and the slugger has made it obvious he won't take a discount, either. Betts is receiving $27 million in his final year before free agency, and the Red Sox haven't been shy about trying to trade him this year in an effort to maximize his value.
As expected, though, teams wanting one year of Betts will have to take on a ton of money and give up some top talent to get a deal done, according to Buster Olney.
Report: Red Sox attaching Price in Betts talks, want 2 top prospects https://t.co/00x7itIHZZ pic.twitter.com/clH8lf4C2r
— theScore MLB (@theScoreMLB) January 20, 2020
So now one year of Betts will cost two top prospects and David Price, who is set to make a total of $66 million between 2020 and 2022. That is a lot to ask, when it is the Red Sox who seem rather desperate to unload Betts before he walks in free agency.
According to @Buster_ESPN, if teams want to trade for Mookie Betts, they’ll also have to take on the contract of David Price who has 3-years left at $32 million AAV.
— Nick Quaglia (@NickQuag) January 20, 2020
In return the #RedSox want two high end prospects pic.twitter.com/z0TNv9biEC
Trading for Betts would be a huge risk, and the new stipulations may mean only a big market team like the Los Angeles Dodgers would be able to make such a move.
Trading two prospects for Betts wouldn't be a shocking starting point. Throwing in Price's contract is what makes this a trade that may not happen the way the Red Sox want.