Why Would Anyone Trade With the Red Sox After They Reneged on 3-Way Mookie Betts Trade?

All in all, Boston has embarrassed itself over the last week.

The Red Sox' blockbuster three-team trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Minnesota Twins hit a snag due to Boston's anxiety over Brusdar Graterol's medical records as we all know.

Of course, terms of the trade were finalized on Sunday after days of the Red Sox pleading for more compensation. In the end, Graterol wasn't even included in the deal (with Boston), and Minnesota rightfully backed out.

That begs the obvious question: why shouldn't other organizations take the Twins route and simply refuse to do business with Boston from this point forward?

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

You could argue that nothing the Red Sox did was correct from a business and PR perspective.

Boston's new chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom should be embarrassed with how he failed to do his homework regarding Graterol's medical records. In 2016, the 21-year-old right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery and in 2019 he missed significant time with a shoulder impingement. He returned later in the season and served exclusively as a reliever.

SOMEHOW, Bloom wasn't aware of the fact that Graterol projected to serve out of the bullpen rather than as a starter for the remainder of his career.

Real question is what #RedSox want. #MNTwins could send Graterol and lesser prospect to #Dodgers, then LAD could flip Graterol and a better prospect to BOS. But some in talks sense that negative media reaction to Verdugo-Graterol return for Betts-Price gave BOS ownership pause.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 8, 2020

That's not even the worst of it. The Red Sox indefensibly allowed the media to bully them into delaying proceedings because they were so flabbergasted by the lack of return the club was getting for a generational talent in Betts. That's not how this works! You make a deal, you stick to it.

In the end, Boston was able to weasel their way into getting a more appetizing haul in return from the Dodgers, and it simply never should have came to that.

The club's ineptitude saw them fleece the system, turn back on their word, and still be able to offload a player they've been trying to trade for months. Other teams around the MLB should think twice before engaging in trade talks with the Red Sox from here on out.