The Los Angeles Angels were what we’d call an innocent bystander in the entire Mookie Betts trade drama. It was reported last week that the Boston Red Sox had dealt the former AL MVP to the Los Angeles Dodgers with David Price in a three-team deal that also included the Minnesota Twins.
Boston had issues with the medicals of top prospect Brusdar Graterol, delaying the trade from being finalized until Sunday. All the while, the Angels’ deal to acquire star outfielder Joc Pederson and Ross Stripling from the Dodgers seemingly fell through.
We now have more details courtesy of Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, who reports that Angels owner Arte Moreno ultimately decided to nix the trade.
The deal would have originally sent Pederson, Stripling and outfield prospect Andy Pages to the Angels in exchange for infielder Luis Rengifo and at least one other prospect.
Not only would this have stabilized the Angels’ rotation, it would’ve given the likes of Mike Trout and the recently signed Anthony Rendon another power hitter in their lineup. It’s also rather interesting that Moreno had final say here, not general manager Billy Eppler.
Pederson, 27, hit 36 homers last season and is averaging north of 30 over the past two years. Given the logjam in the Dodgers’ outfield, we still expect him to be moved ahead of Opening Day.
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