Betts trade official with addition of Downs
Baseball's blockbuster trade is finally official with the key addition of Dodgers' shortstop Jeter Downs. Downs, MLB.com's No. 44 overall prospect, and catcher Connor Wong were added to the deal that sends 2018 American League MVP Mookie Betts, left-hander David Price and cash from the Red Sox to the Dodgers. The trade was finalized
Baseball's blockbuster trade is finally official with the key addition of Dodgers' shortstop
Downs, MLB.com's No. 44 overall prospect, and catcher
Drafted 32nd overall by the Reds in 2017, Downs was sent to Los Angeles in the December 2018 trade centered around outfielder
Downs and Wong join outfielder
Verdugo, 23, appeared in 106 Major League games for the Dodgers last year and hit .294/.342/.475 before a back injury sidelined him for the last two months of the season and kept him off Los Angeles' postseason roster. He told MLB.com last month that he hopes to be healthy for Opening Day.
Boston had been slated to receive No. 83 overall prospect
Graterol made 18 appearances, including 11 starts, across three Minor League levels last season before facing the Tigers in his big league debut on Sept. 1. Before the promotion, he went 7-0 with a 1.92 ERA and 61 strikeouts over 61 innings. His best stretch came with Double-A Pensacola, where Graterol was 6-0 with a 1.71 ERA and .179 opponents' batting average in 12 outings, including nine starts, striking out 50 in 52 2/3 innings. His season was interrupted in May when he went on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement.
After reaching the Majors, Graterol went 1-1 with a 4.66 ERA and 10 strikeouts against two walks over 9 2/3 innings in 10 relief appearances. The Venezuela native's fastball is his money pitch, touching triple digits and sitting between 96-98 mph with lots of sink. It received a 70 grade on the 20-to-80 scouting scale from MLB Pipeline. Graterol also utilizes a slider, curveball and changeup.
Signed by Minnesota on Aug. 29, 2014, Graterol missed all of the 2016 season following Tommy John surgery but has been stellar ever since. In 51 Minor League outings, including 41 starts, he's 19-6 with a 2.48 ERA and 230 punchouts over 214 innings.
Tyler Maun is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @TylerMaun.