Hall of Famer Jim Rice says Mookie Betts told him 'I wanted to stay' with Red Sox
As the Red Sox and Dodgers try to finalize a blockbuster deal that will send Mookie Betts to Los Angeles, it seems the former American League MVP always wanted to stay in Boston.
In a spot with MLB Network Radio on Wednesday, Hall of Famer Jim Rice said that he spoke with Betts the night before – when news of the deal broke – and that Betts reiterated that he "wanted to stay" in Boston.
"I told you before – I wanted to stay," Rice said Betts told him Tuesday. "It was a business deal. I can't do anything about it ... They chose to go that way and I have to accept it."
The three-team trade would ship Betts and David Price to the Dodgers, Boston would get Alex Verdugo from Los Angeles and prospect Brusdal Graterol from the Twins while Minnesota would receive pitcher Kenta Maeda from the Dodgers.
The deal has reportedly hit a snag as the Red Sox have questions about Graterol's medical records.