A subplot to the Los Angeles Dodgers reaching an agreement with the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins was a secondary trade with the L.A. Angels.
The deal called for the Dodgers to send Joc Pederson, Ross Stripling and Andy Pages to Anaheim in exchange for Luis Rengifo and one or two Minor League players. However, the trade was contingent on the three-team blockbuster first being completed.
That hit a snag when the Red Sox raised issue over the medicals of prospect Brusdar Graterol. Trade talks remained in limbo as Boston and Minnesota attempted to find a solution. All the while, the Dodgers’ trade with the Angels hung in the balance.
The delay frustrated Angels owner Arte Moreno, who nixed the deal after the Dodgers struck separate trades with the Red Sox and Twins. While Moreno acknowledged that fact, he denied the idea of there being a trade agreement with the Dodgers, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic:
Arte Moreno: “We didn’t really have a deal. It was leaked that we had a deal, but we didn’t really have a deal…whatever you read, you read.” Said the Angels are looking to add a starter that can “substantially” help them, not a No. 4 or No. 5 type starter.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) February 17, 2020
Although it was the Angels who backed out of the trade, the Dodgers reportedly did not feel a need to keep talks alive.
Pederson and Stripling both reported to Camelback Ranch for the start of Spring Training without issue; though they acknowledged there was a level of awkwardness with the entire situation. Meanwhile, Dodgers president of baseball operations and manager Dave Roberts have highlighted the key roles Pederson and Stripling should fill.
“We feel really good about the way things played out and what our team looks like right now,” Friedman said. Roberts added it was Friedman who largely kept Pederson and Stripling up to date as the saga unfolded.
“I kind of took the approach to stand back, because their phones were blowing up and I didn’t want to add to the uncertainty or confusion,” Roberts explained. “And I really didn’t know. But I did follow up once it went down and reassured them how excited I was to have them.”
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