Sep 4, 2019; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts (50) hits a single during the fourth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Dodgers have added arguably the second-best player in baseball to a team that won 106 games in 2019.

According to several outlets, the Dodgers acquired outfielder Mookie Betts from the Boston Red Sox in a three-team that also reportedly includes the Minnesota Twins. Starting pitcher David Price will also go from Boston to the Dodgers in the trade, while starting pitcher Kenta Maeda will go to the Twins. The main pieces going to the Red Sox in the deal appear to be outfielder Alex Verdugo — who will enter his third MLB season — and pitching prospect Brusdar Graterol.

Additionally, the Dodgers are sending outfielder Joc Pederson to the Angels for infielder Luis Rengifo.

There’s a ton going on here. But far and away the biggest thing is that the Red Sox are giving up *Mookie Betts* in a contention window.

Yes, the New York Yankees were quite likely to win the AL East in 2020, but this was a Red Sox team at least shaping up in the 90-win area on paper with Betts- and that would be a team in contention. And this is a superstar 27-year-old player that was better than Mike Trout by WAR in 2018, according to both Baseball Reference and FanGraphs (Betts’ WAR in 2018 topped any season Trout has had).

Even if we eliminate 2020 and think long term, the Red Sox should’ve been doing everything possible to pay what it takes to keep Betts. He’s adding 5-10 wins to a team while taking up just one roster spot, and with his age and skillset (both a top-tier offensive and defensive player), should be an elite player for a long, long time. He’s worth the $350+ million he’ll likely get from some team next offseason, and he was right to be demanding such money in an extension from the Red Sox.

Boston does get a good young center fielder in Verdugo, who turns 24 in May and was worth 3.1 WAR per Baseball Reference in 2020. And Graterol is an intriguing arm. But on a team that should be trying to win right now, this isn’t exactly a return worth celebrating in a trade for a proven, still-young superstar. For Boston, this was a financial decision, and one that shouldn’t be viewed as acceptable by their fans.

For the Dodgers, meanwhile, this is the kind of move that should thrill their fanbase and have the clubhouse feeling extremely confident entering the season. And the organization seems intent on trying to keep Betts beyond 2020.

The Dodgers’ lineup is now video game-esque, and the order can go in countless ways; just line these hitters up however you’d like, and you’ll score a ton of runs.

Adding Betts to a 106-win team — and a team that has won at least 92 games in seven straight seasons — has to terrify the rest of the National League- and particularly the NL West, of course. The Dodgers are far and away the team to beat in the NL right now, and they were able to make this trade without giving up stud prospects Gavin Lux and Dustin May. They have the organizational depth to easily afford to give up what they did in this trade, especially for a player that could put their team over the top.

This is exactly the kind of trade you make in the Dodgers’ position, and will give them a big boost in their hopes to end a 32-year title drought.

UPDATE: Several days later, it appears that the Dodgers, Red Sox, and Twins have figured out a way to agree to a trade. Well, multiple trades, technically.

Minnesota prospect Brusdar Graterol’s medical records held up the three-way trade, and on Sunday, the Red Sox and Dodgers agreed to include highly regarded middle infield prospect Jeter Downs in the trade to replace Graterol. Catching prospect Connor Wong also goes from the Dodgers to the Red Sox.

And Graterol is instead going from the Twins to the Dodgers for Kenta Maeda.

More as the details keep flowing in:

Naturally, the “Jeter to the Red Sox” jokes have already been out in full force.

UPDATE II: The Dodgers-Angels deal that would’ve sent Joc Pederson and Ross Stripling to the Angels, and Luis Rengifo to the Dodgers, is apparently off.

About Matt Clapp

Matt is an editor at The Comeback. He attended Colorado State University, wishes he was Saved by the Bell's Zack Morris, and idolizes Larry David. And loves pizza and dogs because obviously.

He can be followed on Twitter at @Matt2Clapp (also @TheBlogfines for Cubs/MLB tweets and @DaBearNecess for Bears/NFL tweets), and can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.