MLB Needs to Punish Red Sox After They Followed up Alex Cora Situation With Mookie Betts Trade Holdup
The Boston Red Sox have had quite the embarrassing offseason. First, the team had to fire manager Alex Cora for his role in the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal, which has led to many questioning the legitimacy of their 2018 World Series title, though we are awaiting word from the league on that.
Now the team is holding up the Mookie Betts mega-deal over some unfounded complaints about Minnesota Twins prospect Brusdar Graterol. This affects three others teams and the league has to step in and do something because this is far beneath professionalism.
Per @Ken_Rosenthal, the hold up in the Red Sox-Dodgers trade is over Brusdar Graterol's medical records. Red Sox "might ask for an additional player and/or money to bridge the gap, though it is unclear whether the player would come from the Twins or Dodgers, sources said."
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) February 6, 2020
The sign-stealing is one thing. That is an egregious act and a severe punishment must be handed down if evidence is found through that investigation.
But this whole Betts trade fiasco should not go unpunished if the Red Sox screw it all up by seemingly trying to get another prospect after the deal had already been agreed upon. They finally realized the trade was bad and now they're trying to get their way? Not only that, but they're asking the Twins -- who are only getting Kenta Maeda in the deal -- for another top prospect, and not the Dodgers. What is going on?
Agent Scott Boras: Brusdar Graterol threw “without limitation” and 100 mph in majors for weeks to end 2019 and he has no great medical concern. “They’re relying on a cursory medical record review yet noted orthopedic doctors who saw him say there’s no issue going forward” #Mookie
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 7, 2020
Not to mention we are a extremely close to Spring Training and there's still no resolution here. Players lives are in limbo, which MLBPA executive director Tony Clark echoed on Friday. The Red Sox have been trying to trade Betts all offseason, and they finally pull the trigger only to immediately be hesitant about the whole ordeal.
A trade of this magnitude cannot be tampered with in this manner, and if the league doesn't do something it'll truly be a lack of oversight considering a team like the Red Sox is supposed to represent the sport in a positive and responsible way.