Fansided

10 MLB moves that still need to happen this winter

By Joshua Sadlock

ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 20: Atlanta Braves Third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) takes the field during the MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Francisco on September 20, 2019 at SunTrust Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David John Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 20: Atlanta Braves Third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) takes the field during the MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Francisco on September 20, 2019 at SunTrust Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David John Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – JUNE 18: David Price #10 of the Boston Red Sox pitches in the fourth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on June 18, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – JUNE 18: David Price #10 of the Boston Red Sox pitches in the fourth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on June 18, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /

Boston Red Sox: Trade David Price and Jackie Bradley Jr.

The Red Sox most likely will not trade MVP Mookie Betts even though he is in his final year before free agency and hopes to test the open market. They won’t receive a huge offer for Betts in his walk year that would be worth the negative press that comes with effectively waving the white flag on a season before it starts to shed salary. Trading Betts at the deadline if they’re out of contention is an entirely different matter, but there’s no reason to expect the Red Sox won’t be in the hunt.

A much more likely scenario would see the Red Sox trading left-hander David Price and center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. in a deal similar to their salary dump of Josh Beckett and Adrian Gonzalez in 2012. Boston had to eat a significant chunk of money in that trade but did ultimately recoup some cash and got out from under bad contracts.

Former AL Cy Young winner David Price is entering his fifth season with the Red Sox in 2020 and the results so far have been extremely underwhelming. Price is 46-24 with a 3.84 ERA in Boston and has battled injuries three years in a row. He is owed $96 million over the next three years.

Jackie Bradley Jr. could be packaged with Price to help improve the return for Boston. The 29-year-old center fielder remains one of the best defenders in baseball but his offense is inconsistent. Bradley has hit just .234/.318/.409 over the last three years after making his first All-Star Game in 2016.

Boston believes it needs to shed salary, that much is clear, but trading Betts isn’t the best answer to keep up in the AL East. Another team should be willing to trade for Price if the Red Sox cover a portion of his salary. Bradley still has enough upside and youth to interest trade partners.

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