Dodgers Trade Rumors: Joc Pederson to Angels Deal off After Mookie Betts Move
February 10, 2020
Joc Pederson isn't a member of the Los Angeles Angels after all.
The trade between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Angels that was apparently hinging on the deal that sent Mookie Betts from the Boston Red Sox to the Dodgers is reportedly off again. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported the news.
This comes after Michael J. Duarte of NBC Los Angeles suggested the trade that would send the outfielder and pitcher Ross Stripling to the Angels for infielder Luis Rengifo as the "main framework" was "expected" to be finalized.
Jon Heyman of MLB Network provided additional context:
Jeff Passan of ESPN reported the Red Sox ultimately agreed to send Betts and pitcher David Price to the Dodgers for outfielder Alex Verdugo, shortstop Jeter Downs and catching prospect Connor Wong.
Rosenthal and Passan reported the Dodgers and Minnesota Twins also agreed to a trade with pitcher Kenta Maeda and cash headed to Minnesota and pitching prospect Brusdar Graterol and the 67th pick in the draft going to Los Angeles.
Passan reported the Red Sox were "spooked" by Graterol's medical review, which helped derail the original trade and cause a delay. It was notable because Graterol underwent Tommy John surgery in the past and was a key part of what the American League East team got back in a deal sending the 27-year-old Betts away in his prime.
The delay reached a point at which the Major League Baseball Players Association released a statement from executive director Tony Clark, noting that it "unfairly put several Players' lives in a state of limbo."
Heyman reported Angels owner Arte Moreno "wasn't pleased about the delay," and he now does not have Pederson in his team's lineup.
That is something of a setback for the Angels as they figure to be contenders this season with new manager Joe Maddon and newly signed third baseman Anthony Rendon joining forces with outfielder Mike Trout. Pederson would represent another slugger after he drilled 36 home runs last season.
The left-handed outfielder has 25 or more home runs in four of the last five years.
He may not end up a Dodger in 2020, though, as Rosenthal suggested it "still would make sense" for the National League West club to trade him since he "represents excess, both financially and in [the] outfield" at $7.75 million in 2020.
What's more, Bob Nightengale of USA Today noted the Dodgers are still "planning" to consider trade offers for Pederson, especially since the Angels were the ones who elected not to go through with the original deal.