onsidering the Dodgers didn't give up much to receive a 27-year-old 2018 MVP Mookie Betts and former Cy Young award-winning pitcher David Price in a deal that can signal for some as an apology from the Boston Red Sox organization for the 2018 World Series cheating scandal to the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.
Although the investigation is still ongoing and we cannot completely state that the Boston Red Sox cheated in 2018, but we can read all the signs that lead to that conclusion with the firing of their manager Alex Cora. With the addition of Betts, the Dodgers lineup now has two MVPs with Cody Bellinger and Mookie Betts and our starting pitching now have two Cy Young award-winning pitchers with David Price and Clayton Kershaw.
Earlier this year it was revealed that the Houston Astros were found guilty of cheating in the 2017 World Series and regular season. To Dodgers fans all over the world, it was a devastating blow considering we've waited 29 years to see our beloved Dodgers make it to the World Series.
What was more heartbreaking was later learning that the Boston Red Sox were also under investigation for cheating in the 2018 season. The same season that the Boston Red Sox faced the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. You cannot make this up: The Dodgers fell victim to two teams under investigation by Major League Baseball for stealing signs that helped them win the World Series.
On February 4, the Boston Red Sox traded their 2018 MVP Mookie Betts and one of their pitching ace David Price to the Dodgers. Giving the Dodgers some weapons to fill in the holes in their lineup. Now, with the Dodgers acquiring Betts it gives Southern California the last two American League MVPs.
It is definitely safe to say that this baseball season is going to be an exciting one for Angelenos. Something that is heavily needed right now with the city still mourning the death of NBA star Kobe Bryant.
Betts is one of just a few players in the league that can compete with Angels star and the 2019 MVP Mike Trout. The Dodgers and Red Sox are no newcomers to blockbuster trades that involve max players. In 2012 the Dodgers acquired Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, and Josh Beckett in a deal that transferred approximately $250 million in salaries from Boston to Los Angeles.
This time around, the price tag is not that large because Betts is in the last year of his contract where he will earn $27 million and will test the free-agency waters after the season. David Price, in 2016 signed a seven-year $217 million contract with the Boston Red Sox. Now, he has three years and $96 million left of that contract. This trade does put the Dodgers over the luxury tax for exceeding the $208 million competitive balance tax and we are not sure yet if the Red Sox will take on a significant portion of Price's contract because the tax is assessed on the payroll at the end of every season and not the start of the season.
The Dodgers in exchange gave up Alex Verdugo and his Volver, Volver walk-up anthem to the Red Sox and Kenta Maeda to the Minnesota Twins. Twins reportedly shipped minor league pitcher Brusadar Graterol to the Red Sox.
It is definitely safe to say that this baseball season is going to be an exciting one for Angelenos. Something that is heavily needed right now with the city still mourning the death of NBA star Kobe Bryant.
