MLB news & notes: Red Sox inexplicably trade Mookie Betts

Welcome to ‘Marty’s Musings’, my weekly column of numbers summarizing the happenings in the baseball world. I am your guide for taking an analytic look at the news and notes throughout the game, and highlighting this week’s key pitching matchups.

The Red Sox dominated the light news cycle last week, but trading Mookie Betts, then calling the deal off due to a reliever’s medicals, then trading him anyway. What a frustrating week in Beantown.

News & Notes

3 - Team original deal that would have sent Mookie Betts out of Boston collapsed amidst Boston’s medical concerns on Brusdar Graterol, but have no fear, the Red Sox still managed to chase the second-best-player out of town in a two-team trade with the Dodgers. Boston sent Betts and David Price to the Dodgers, getting Alex Verdugo and Jeter Downs back in return. Meanwhile, LA also landed Graterol, apparently unconcerned with his medicals. Good grief, Boston.

2 - Year, $10 million deal between the Red Sox and Andrew Benintendi. The contract buys-out two arbitration years. It’s a deal that probably pays Benintendi a premium this season (considering the current structure of arbitration) but gives the Red Sox a break in 2021.

1 - Pennant won in his managerial career for Ron Roenicke, the Red Sox new skipper. Roenicke served as a bench coach for Alex Cora, who got the hook amid his implications in the Astros sign-stealing scandal.

3-4 - Months Yankees’ starter Jamex Paxton will be out following back surgery. New York slated Paxton in the front of the rotation, behind Gerrit Cole and competing with Masahiro Tanaka for the second slot. He’ll be out until at least Memorial Day.

34 - Uniform number of the late Roy Halladay. The Phillies announced they will be retiring Halladay’s number on May 29th, on the tenth anniversary of his perfect game against the Marlins.

2.6 - Billion dollar deal to sell the Mets, which was shelved last week, when the Wilpons reportedly wanted to keep all operating decision-making during the transitional period to Steve Cohen was completed. The botched deal went sideways in a most-public way, and it’s rumored the Mets are trying to prevent Cohen from purchasing a different MLB team. Overall, this entire storyline has turned into a mess.

52 - Days until Opening Day.