Boras refutes questions about Graterol's health: 'All of that is false'
The hitch in the reported three-team blockbuster trade sending Mookie Betts and David Price to the Los Angeles Dodgers is the health of Minnesota Twins right-hander Brusdar Graterol.
The deal hasn't been finalized due to apparent concerns about the young reliever's medical records, and that's not sitting lightly with his agent, Scott Boras.
"To suggest that this player is not healthy going forward, or has any form of substantive medical defect that would in any way damage his career, all of that is false. This is a scant supposition created by medical review, by someone who has never seen him physically," Boras told Alex Speier of The Boston Globe. "I don’t know Boston’s position on this. I know that people are suggesting that Graterol has some malady about him medically, which is inaccurate. That supposition is false.
"He is in spring training. He’s ready to throw without limitations going forward through the season. And there’s no suggestion that there’s anything at issue with this player in the current or immediate aspects of his career."
Red Sox evaluators reportedly viewed Graterol as a potential starter before news of the trade emerged. That stance has reportedly changed in recent days, and the club now primarily projects him as a reliever, prompting Boston to ask for another top prospect from the Twins to complete the deal. Minnesota has so far rejected that proposal.
The reported deal featured Betts, Price, and cash going to the Dodgers with outfielder Alex Verdugo heading to Boston in return. The Dodgers were then to send right-hander Kenta Maeda to Minnesota, and the Twins were flipping Graterol to the Red Sox.
Additionally, a reported trade is in place for the Los Angeles Angels to acquire Joc Pederson and Ross Stripling from the Dodgers, but only once the Betts deal is finalized.
The Major League Baseball Players Association is also raising concerns about the deal, urging all parties to reach a resolution immediately.
Boras roundly rejects the notion that Graterol's health should hold up the trade, adding that neither the 21-year-old's Tommy John surgery in 2015 nor his right shoulder impingement last year would limit his ability to start.