Is the Mookie Betts trade train losing steam?
The Boston Red Sox avoided arbitration with their star outfielder Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $27 million contract.
Now, MLB Network's Jon Morosi is reporting Betts and Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor are less likely to be traded than Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado.
The St. Louis Cardinals recently emerged as a suitor for Arenado and have engaged the Rockies in early trade talks, per Morosi.
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Betts is a prime trade candidate this offseason, as he'll be an unrestricted free agent following the 2020 season and likely will command a record contract the Red Sox may not be willing to give him.
There hasn't been much smoke around a potential Betts trade, however. The Los Angeles Dodgers are one of the few MLB teams with deep enough pockets to land Betts and reportedly began "exploratory" trade talks with Boston in mid-December, but nothing more has come of those discussions.
New Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom doesn't seem in a particular rush to trade Betts and reportedly won't deal the 27-year-old star unless he can get a major haul in return.
Boston Red Sox
That "major haul" apparently isn't materializing anytime soon, as more dominos may have to fall before the Sox make a decision on Betts.