The Twins Eternal Connection to the Mookie Betts Trade

[Cody Christie]

Mookie Betts returns to Boston this weekend for the first time since his trade from the Red Sox to the Dodgers. The Twins are eternally connected to his blockbuster trade, even if it took a roundabout way for the deal to transpire.

Image courtesy of Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

In February 2020, the Red Sox were actively shopping Mookie Betts and had agreed to the parameters of a three-team deal. The deal initially would have sent Mookie Betts and David Price to LA,  Alex Verdugo and Brusdar Graterol to Boston, and Kenta Maeda to Minnesota. Boston developed reservations about Graterol after getting a better look at his medicals. They requested that the Twins include another top prospect to balance the trade. Minnesota scoffed at this request and pulled out of the trade.

Graterol's injury history was well known at the time, so it's unclear what Boston saw in his medicals that prompted the position change. He had Tommy John surgery as a prospect and suffered a shoulder impingement during his first season in the big leagues. The Red Sox weren't sending any players to the Twins in the original trade, so there needed to be more reason for Minnesota to include another prospect in the proposed deal. 

Even after the first trade collapsed, the Dodgers and Red Sox were able to complete a trade for Betts. Los Angeles acquired Betts and Price in exchange for outfielder Alex Verdugo, catcher Connor Wong, and infielder Jeter Downs. Verdugo has posted a 108 OPS+ in his four seasons since the trade, while Wong settled into a backup catcher role. Downs was considered a good prospect at the time of the deal, but he struggled in the minors, and the Nationals claimed him off waivers last December. At the same time, Betts is in the conversation for the NL MVP award and is arguably one of baseball's best overall players. 

The Twins were able to work out a separate trade with the Dodgers that included the same major piece from both clubs. Los Angeles received Graterol, Luke Raley, and the 67th selection in the 2020 MLB Draft. (Note - MLB draft picks cannot be traded except for the Competitive Balance picks.) Minnesota acquired Kenta Maeda, Jair Camargo, and cash considerations. It's been over three years since the two teams agreed to the trade, so both organizations have a clearer picture of the results.

Maeda has made 47 starts in his Twins tenure while posting a 108 ERA+ with 10.2 K/9 and 4.53 K/W. He was the 2020 AL Cy Young runner-up after posting an MLB-leading 0.75 WHIP with a 2.70 ERA. Minnesota's desperately needed help in the starting rotation, and Maeda has exceeded expectations when he has been healthy. He's heading toward free agency for the first time in his career, and how he finishes the 2023 season might change his outlook. There is a possibility the Twins could make him a qualifying offer to keep him under team control for one more season at a high average value (roughly $20 million). Overall, his time in a Twins uniform has been respectable with injuries taking away some of his value.

Graterol shifted to the bullpen with the Dodgers and is having arguably his best season with the club. In 55 appearances, he has posted a 1.50 ERA with a 1.07 WHIP and a career-high 1.8 rWAR. For a reliever, his strikeout totals have remained low, with a 7.0 K/9 for his career despite a triple-digit fastball. Los Angeles has trusted him in more late-inning situations over the last two seasons, with 27 games finished and ten saves. He's been a decent middle-of-the-bullpen option on some strong Dodgers teams. 

The other prospects involved in the trade have found differing success levels. Jair Camargo has hit .251/.316/.502 (.818) with 15 doubles and 18 home runs for the St. Paul Saints while continuing to play catcher. Raley has bounced to multiple organizations before finding a home in Tampa Bay this year. In 100 games, he has posted an .855 OPS with 20 doubles, three triples, and 18 home runs. Los Angeles used the draft pick they acquired from Minnesota to draft Clayton Beeter, a right-handed starting pitcher. Last year, he was traded from the Dodgers to the Yankees for Joey Gallo, and he earned a spot in the 2023 Futures Game. It will be interesting for fans to follow his career because of the multiple Twins connections. 

Minnesota's direct connection to the Betts trade didn't come to fruition, but it's a move fans can look back on through a specific lens. Would Graterol have performed better for the Red Sox? Who would the Twins have selected with the draft pick the club traded away? There are many unanswered questions even multiple years after this trade. 

How would you grade this trade in retrospect? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

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[terrydactyls]

I'm satisfied.  Especially because Graterol went to the NL instead of Boston.

[dxpavelka]

If this article had been three paragraphs shorter it wouldn't have had the word "Gallo" in it.  SO CLOSE!!

[old nurse]

Unless Carmago can hit at the major league level at a level to overcome his catching this is yet another losing trade by the Twins

[Dave Borton]

Moooook...!

[Rod Carews Birthday]

I liked the trade then and I still like it now.  Both teams got something they needed and the players have continued to do well.  The lesser names in the trade are also seemingly going to make it to the majors and do well also.  While it would be great to have Graterol right now in the bullpen, that would mean we didn't have Maeda so that doesn't really help us. 

 

[Trov]

7 hours ago, old nurse said:

Unless Carmago can hit at the major league level at a level to overcome his catching this is yet another losing trade by the Twins

We got a great 2020 season from Maeda, a okay 2021 until injury, and now some good starts this year.  All for a bull pen pitcher and a guy that bounced around through several teams before he finally had some good time, a crazy good first half, but second half he has been below average guy, he is also almost 29 and basically still a rookie this season.  We did give up a pick who could be something.  

Personally, I would take the starter for pen guy every time and not worry about it.  I would not call this trade a loss at all.  At worse it is a good trade for all. 

[dxpavelka]

4 hours ago, Trov said:

We got a great 2020 season from Maeda, a okay 2021 until injury, and now some good starts this year.  All for a bull pen pitcher and a guy that bounced around through several teams before he finally had some good time, a crazy good first half, but second half he has been below average guy, he is also almost 29 and basically still a rookie this season.  We did give up a pick who could be something.  

Personally, I would take the starter for pen guy every time and not worry about it.  I would not call this trade a loss at all.  At worse it is a good trade for all. 

At least we didn't follow it up by also trading Duran

[Linus]

I would say if Camargo has a mlb career even as a backup it would be considered a good trade. 

[LanceJS]

I agree that this has worked out fine for the Twins. If Maeda can continue with his strong showing the rest of the season and pitch effectively in the postseason (assuming the Twins win the AL Centra) whether as a starter or out of the ‘pen, it makes it even better

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

This trade was good for both teams,  leaning towards Minnesota because Maeda is a SP.  Maeda at his best has been better than Graterol at his best.  The Twins still have a slight chance at getting a 1st round pick for Maeda as compensation if they give him a qualifying offer and he signs elsewhere for more than 50 million.  it not a high probability, but if he continues to have a strong fall and postseason,  and with Ohtani's injury (taking another good arm out of the equation) there is a chance.  

I am really curious to see what happens this offseason.  Padres and Mets likely licking their wounds from the last couple of years.  Will other teams step up this year or will free agents find it more difficult to get deals this offseason.  

[SteveLV]

The other component is that the Twins got a nice SP in Maeda at a ridiculously low contract price.  Complete bargain.

[old nurse]

On 8/27/2023 at 6:20 PM, Trov said:

We got a great 2020 season from Maeda, a okay 2021 until injury, and now some good starts this year.  All for a bull pen pitcher and a guy that bounced around through several teams before he finally had some good time, a crazy good first half, but second half he has been below average guy, he is also almost 29 and basically still a rookie this season.  We did give up a pick who could be something.  

Personally, I would take the starter for pen guy every time and not worry about it.  I would not call this trade a loss at all.  At worse it is a good trade for all. 

Maeda had 12 great starts in a 1/3 season. That was his outlier year. The Dodgers had him as a swing starter/reliever.  He is what he is. A back of rotation starter that can occasionally pitch a great game.