Well, see you all in 2021. Maybe.

Catcher Connor Wong is also in the deal apparently along with Verdugo and Downs.

So, Wong & Downs > Graterol? I know nothing about any of them.

$48M also going from Boston to LA.

According to the Sox Prospects guys Downs becomes the Sox’ #1 or #2 prospect which makes him a top 100 guy. He looks like he can play and apparently is likely to be a second baseman so that’s a nice fit.

Wong seems like a guy who maybe can be something, strikes out a lot though.


Better than Graterol? Well if Graterol is a reliever probably. If he’s a starter probably not.

MLB Pipeline has Jeter Downs* as the Dodgers #5 prospect, and Connor Wong #28. That’s not a bad haul with Verdugo, but none are as a ‘sure thing’ as Betts.

* Named for the ever-popular NYY HOF shortstop.

Downs is #44 on the MLB top 100 list. This is their scouting report;

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55

As if the Dodgers don't already have an abundance of shortstop riches with Corey Seager and Gavin Lux, Downs batted .276/.362/.526 with 24 homers and 24 steals and reached Double-A shortly after turning 21 in his first season in the organization. A Reds supplemental first-round pick who signed for $1,822,500 in 2017, he came to Los Angeles in December 2018 as part of a package for Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp, Alex Wood and Kyle Farmer. Named after Derek Jeter, he's the younger brother of Jerry Downs, a first baseman in the Red Sox system.

Downs actually struggled at the outset of 2019 when he got too impatient at the plate, then took off once he settled down and started working counts and using the entire field. Just one of his 19 homers in his first two pro seasons went to the right side of the field, but he showed the ability to drive the ball the other way with six opposite-field blasts last year. With his simple right-handed swing, quick hands and deceptive strength, he should hit for power and average.

Downs is a smart and aggressive runner who makes the most of his average speed. After spending more time at second base in 2018, he saw most of his action at shortstop last season. He has the hands and enough arm to play shortstop, though his range fits better at second base.

but none are as a ‘sure thing’ as Betts

This is from an Out of the Park trade summary, right? It can't be real.

FWIW
Downs prospect rank
Baseball America 86
Sickels 95
MLB Pipeline 44
Baseball Prospectus - not in top 100
BB HQ - 84
Fantrax 47

Mike - How many of those are current rankings? I know MLB has come out with their new list, are the other ones 2020 rankings or 2019?

How does the money changing hands affect the luxury tax levels?

As I understand it the money each team pays is what counts. So for example on Price the Sox are responsible for $48 million over the next three years and the Dodgers are responsible for the rest.

but none are as a ‘sure thing’ as Betts

Well then this is unacceptable.

@ Jose - all of them are for the 2020 season - though I think Fantrax was December, there's not a lot of additional info since then. I keep a list for fantasy baseball prep, so it was easy to look up.

Here's what Sickels said Feb 3 about Downs

95) Jeter Downs, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade B: Not previously ranked; hit .276/.362/.526 with 24 homers, 24 steals, 60 walks in High-A/Double-A; another multi-category player, this may be too low. — ETA late 2021

Thanks Mike.

I looked it up years ago and I remember finding that the going rate for a star player was about one top 50 guy, one top 100 guy and one or two lottery tickets so this sounds about right. This is not dissimilar to what the Sox gave for a year of Gonzalez.

How does the money changing hands affect the luxury tax levels?

Cot's salary tracker spreadsheet, which is fantastic, has the whole thing on the far right side. The $48 million Boston is still paying for Price works out to an AAV of $16 million per year counting toward the luxury tax levels. As of now, Boston's 2020 payroll for the sake of the tax works out to $188,367,917, which is well below the $208 million threshold.

Their actual 2020 payroll is only about half a million below that, in a remarkable coincidence. The tax numbers include around $15 million in player benefits, while actual payroll does not. However, actual payroll includes $14.3 million for Rusney Castillo, while the tax numbers do not.

What about now?

What, a .179/.263/.314 line in AAA doesn't excite you? CANT MISS Darren, CANT MISS.

+3.6 WAR Betts 2020 through end of his contract at the time of the trade
+0.5 WAR Price 2020 through today (still has 1 year + 1 month remaining on contract)
--------
+4.1 WAR

+4.6 WAR Verdugo 2020 through today (still has 3+ years remaining on reserve clause)
+0.2 WAR Wong 2020 through today (still has rookie status)
+0.0 WAR Downs 2020 through today (still in minors)
--------
+4.8 WAR

There's still plenty of time for Verdugo, Wong, and Downs to completely crater and make the trade not worth it from a baseball perspective. The shortened 2020 season ended up helping Boston on the bean counting here.

I shouldn't have poked this hornet's nest.

What, a .179/.263/.314 line in AAA doesn't excite you? CANT MISS Darren, CANT MISS.

Touche!

There's a lot more that goes into it, of course. There's the 3 players they got back, plus there's the other players they've signed to replace Betts/Price, with the money that Betts and Price would have cost. Overall, though, to be competing again this quickly seems like a good result.

Except for yesterday. Yikes.