Welcome to the Blue, Mookie Betts & David Price!

The long wait is finally over. Both Mookie Betts and David Price are now officially Dodgers. Per a Dodgers Press Release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired outfielder Mookie Betts, the 2018 American League Most Valuable Player, and left-handed pitcher David Price, the 2012 American League Cy Young Award winner, and cash considerations from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for outfielder Alex Verdugo, minor league infielder Jeter Downs and minor league catcher Connor Wong.

As you know, it took quite some time for this trade to get completed, and there were numerous iterations and false starts involved. Heck, at one point we all thought the Dodgers would not relinquishing one farmhand. Now we know that two higher level Dodger prospects are involved -- Jeter Downs and Connor Wong. Additionally, a player thought to be going to the Red Sox, via a third team, is actually going to be a Dodger instead (but that's for another blog post).

Thank You, Kenta Maeda!

I hate to see Kenta go. He was one of my favorites on the team, and I'm truly saddened that he'll be departing Los Angeles. Hopefully, he'll make his way back into Dodger Blue later on in his career.

As you likely know by now, the Dodgers have finally swung for the fences and made a series of huge trades that includes several moving parts. At first, we thought Maeda would yield a prospect reliever named Brusdar Graterol -- who would go to Boston as a part of a three-team trade involving All-Stars Mookie Betts and David Price. Now we learn that the Red Sox will not be a part of this deal. Instead, the Dodgers will keep Graterol, in a newly structured trade that includes another prospect and cash changing hands between the Dodgers and Minnesota Twins.

Thank You, Alex Verdugo!

He was going to be one of our outfield regulars, but now he's the main piece going to the Red Sox in the Mookie Betts / David Price trade -- likely to be considered the Dodgers biggest trade in franchise history.

As you already know, the Dodgers have apparently pulled off a caper of monumental proportions. It's a deal that is befuddling due to the stars involved. After all, why would you ever consider sending away the second best ballplayer in the game? Not only that, we basically got him and an All-Star hurler for a top prospect and two other farmhands who seemingly were blocked at every level.

From what has been reported recently (keep in mind it has not yet been confirmed by either club), the Dodgers are getting right-fielder Mookie Betts and former Cy Young winner David Price from the Red Sox for outfielder Alex Verdugo, prospect infielder Jeter Downs and catching prospect Connor Wong. On top of that, Boston is paying half of Price's salary.

Wow!

This is why you and I are not GM's and Andrew Friedman is.

2020 Topps Baseball Flagship, Series 1 -- More Dodger Insert Cards

Below are more Dodger inserts found in packs of Topps 2020 Series 1 flagship brand. Check out the Decade's Next, Major League Material Relics, Jumbo Jersey Sleeve relics, Decade of Dominance and Home Run Challenge Promo cards.

Decade's Next

#DN-10 Gavin Lux

Blog Kiosk: 2/10/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - So is the Deal Done Now?

After much hand wringing, the trade initially reported last week is in its final stages and it's a bit different than what we were originally told. Sure, it's not exactly the lopsided transaction we heard about, but it's still an extremely good deal for the Dodgers. Not only do we get Betts and Price, but the "live-arm" reliever thought to be going to Boston is actually going to be a Dodger -- Brusdar Graterol. Below is the rundown, via Do-Hyoung Park at MLB.com:

DODGERS-TWINS TRADE
Dodgers get: RHP Brusdar Graterol, OF Luke Raley, 67th pick in 2020 Draft
Twins get: RHP Kenta Maeda, Minor Leaguer, cash 

RED SOX-DODGERS TRADE
Red Sox get: OF Alex Verdugo, SS Jeter Downs, C Connor Wong
Dodgers get: OF Mookie Betts, LHP David Price, cash

On another note, the reported trade between the Dodgers and Angels also fell apart. So for now, Joc Pederson and Ross Stripling are still Dodgers. I don't expect that to remain the case. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1916 veteran catcher Chief Meyers is waived by the Giants, but is claimed by both Brooklyn and the Boston Braves. They settle who gets him with a coin toss. The Dodgers win and Chief Meyers joins Brooklyn. In 1971 the Dodgers trade for pitcher Al Downing from the Brewers for Andy Kosco, Downing would spend seven years in LA -- going 46-37 with an 3.16 ERA, 3.45 FIP, 25 complete games and 12 shutouts. In 2009 the Dodgers signed free agent knuckleballer Charlie Haeger. 
• Happy Birthday, Kit McKenna, Cotton Tierney, Bob Logan, Randy Jackson, Jack Fimple, Hiroki Kuroda, César Izturis, Luis Cruz & Travis d'Arnaud!