2020 World Series Odds: Dodgers-Red Sox Trade Impacts MLB Futures
With the NFL season complete, and despite the beginning of the XFL, those who love sports betting can turn their attention to the baseball diamond in the form of 2020 MLB futures odds. Soon, pitchers and catchers will report, spring training will commence, and before you know it, full baseball slates will present themselves.
While scandals lead the conversation, big transactions, such as the Los Angeles Dodgers’ trade to acquire Mookie Betts and David Price from the Boston Red Sox, are shaping the MLB betting landscape. Today, we focus on a few of the early market movers in MLB World Series futures odds.
2020 World Series Odds – MLB Futures
Los Angeles Dodgers +430
No surprises, here. The Dodgers and Red Sox finally completed a trade sending Mookie Betts and David Price to LA for the package of outfielder Alex Verdugo, shortstop Jeter Downs (yes, named after Derek Jeter), and catcher Connor Wong. The initial trade was a three-team deal with the Twins that fell through when Boston became weary of the health of prospect Brusdar Graterol. Verdugo, 23, amassed 12 home runs and 44 RBI in 377 plate appearances for the Dodgers last season.
The move establishes the already-favored Los Angeles Dodgers as the clear top contender in the National League to appear in and win the 2020 World Series. On December 23rd, the Dodgers were +600 on FanDuel Sportsbook to win the World Series. At the time of this writing, the Dodgers are +400 on DraftKings Sportsbook and +430 on FanDuel. Previously the third-favorite, Los Angeles sits ahead of Houston to win the title.
In all likelihood, this number will not get friendlier as the Dodgers sit in an extremely winnable division with a loaded offense. Mookie Betts brings a dynamic right-handed presence to a lineup that was extremely left-handed. If you want the Dodgers, jump on now.
Boston Red Sox +3300
To every action there is always opposed an equal reaction: or the mutual actions of two bodies upon each other are always equal, and directed to contrary parts. Newton’s Third Law of Motion really has nothing to do with this trade but sounds pretty cool and contextual given the circumstances. If the Dodgers experienced a marked boost to their championship hopes, one should agree that the hopes of the Boston Red Sox were relatively dashed with this transaction. Alex Verdugo comes to Boston with plenty of potential… but he is not Mookie Betts. The loss of Betts in an effort to stay below the luxury threshold will make competing with the overwhelmingly favored New York Yankees very difficult in the American League East.
Back in December, bettors could have had the Red Sox for a +2200 price tag on both FanDuel and DraftKings. After the deal, the Red Sox faithful are offered a +3300 tag on FanDuel — a clear better price than the +2500 on DraftKings.
At the moment, I am not sure I can get behind a Red Sox ticket but will wait to see if the price improves if the Yankees start hot.
Minnesota Twins +2000
While certainly not making waves as big as the Red Sox or Dodgers recently, the Minnesota Twins continue to gain steam in the MLB betting market since the holiday season. The addition of Josh Donaldson in late-January after his resurgent 2019 campaign was a big add for the American League Central favorites.
Further, in a separate trade of what was initially a three-team deal with Boston and Los Angeles, the Twins received Kenta Maeda and cash for Brusdar Graterol, Luke Raley, and a pick in this year’s draft. Maeda pitched to a 4.04 xFIP over 153.2 innings for the Dodgers last season and adds depth to a staff that already added Homer Bailey and Rich Hill before the new year.
The addition of Donaldson to an already potent lineup saw the Twins’ price jump from +2500 on both sites all the way to +1800 on FanDuel at the time of this writing. If you are shopping for Minnesota, buy them at their +2000 DraftKings price.
So you’re saying there’s a chance…
Looking to speculate on unlikely longshots this MLB preseason? While teams such as Kansas City, Miami, and Baltimore are not my preferred taste for futures bets, bettors should be looking for the best spot to target the longest odds.
FanDuel Sportsbook does not offer odds greater than +10,000 for any MLB team for both the World Series or League Outright odds. So, Orioles fan, if you are wagering on your team, first stop at your local neurologist to have your head examined and then log off of FanDuel Sportsbook. DraftKings Sportsbook currently prices both the Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles at +75,000 to win the championship. The discrepancy in price is so great that on the ridiculously minuscule chance that a miracle happens, you certainly should be handsomely rewarded. For what it’s worth, the Orioles and Tigers are both +35,000 to win the American League pennant on DraftKings — making the futures bets on FanDuel a bit more ill-advised than they were to begin with.
Sports betting is and should be fun. If you are punching your miracle ticket for a couple of bucks, punch that ticket at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Image Credit: USA Today Sports Images