MLB Insider Theorizes Cardinals Move for Matt Liberatore Could Open up Trade for Mookie Betts

The St. Louis Cardinals made a big splash on Thursday by acquiring top pitching prospect Matt Liberatore from the Tampa Bay Rays. While that's a huge get for the Redbirds, one MLB insider believes that it could ultimately lead to an even larger acquisition.

Jon Heyman sent out a tweet on Thursday evening insisting that new Boston Red Sox front office boss Chaim Bloom was a huge fan of Liberatore during his stint in St. Petersburg, hinting at a possible deal between them and the Cardinals.

New Red Sox honcho Chaim Bloom, previously with Tampa, was a big fan of Liberatore. No real info on this but but is it possible Cards are setting up a deal with Boston?
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 9, 2020

You wouldn't be insane to believe that such a deal with Boston could include outfielder Mookie Betts, an impending free agent following the 2020 season.

A trade between the Cardinals and Red Sox would make sense. St. Louis will look to make a strong push for World Series contention after falling short in last season's NLCS. Betts would definitely put them over the edge.

Well-regarded pitching prospect Matt Liberatore has been traded from the Tampa Bay Rays to the St. Louis Cardinals, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN. It's part of a trade expected to send major league pieces back to Tampa Bay, which has been searching for outfield bats.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 9, 2020

As for the Red Sox, they're desperately looking to shed payroll while bolstering the prospect pipeline. Liberatore, who recorded a 3.10 ERA on a 6-2 record last season, would become the jewel Boston's minor league system and a potential future face of the starting rotation at Fenway.

Again, this is all hypothetical from Heyman and not a proper report, but the pieces are there if both the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals want to work out a deal.