While waiting for pitchers and catchers to finally report, we’ve been lucky enough to entertain a few trade rumors throughout the offseason. Would Nolan Arenado move out of the Rockies? Seemed likely after his comments about the front office came out. Is Kris Bryant‘s time in Chicago over following his failed grievance over service time? Seemed likely when those Arenado rumors collided with Bryant’s desire to leave the Friendly Confines. Would the Indians trade not one, but two of their All-Stars after a season that missed the playoffs? Only one of these has come to fruition. But none of them would come close to the bombshell that was just dropped.

The Boston Red Sox will send Mookie Betts and David Price to the Dodgers in exchange for Alex Verdugo. The Minnesota Twins will also be receiving Kenta Maeda, in exchange for Brudsar Graterol, who will them be packaged into the Red Sox deal for Betts and Price. Significant cash would also go with the Red Sox stars, as both of them are coming to LA with expensive contracts.

That’s the blockbuster we’ve been waiting for and it’s a doozy.

Already my inbox has been stuffed with Sox fans calling this deal a mess. I think it’s way too early for that. The Red Sox didn’t want to pay Mookie Betts what he was worth. So they sent him to LA, it’s as simple as that. David Price earned the right to stay in Boston after the 2018 World Series. The Sox can’t sustain their payroll and rebuild with it on the books. Simple as that, you guys.

For the Red Sox to stay above water, this deal was necessary. That’s the hard truth.

For the Dodgers, they just traded the future of their outfield away for Mookie Betts and an aging David Price. Betts for Verdugo is the main part of this deal, but adding a veteran with postseason experience to a rotation that boasts Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw, is a solid move for LA. Especially after losing Kenta Maeda in this deal and seeing Hyun-Jin Ryu leave in free agency.

Either way you slice this deal, it’s good for both sides. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but a necessary move for both clubs.