Quick Perspectives Following the Mookie Betts Trade

Wow. They actually did it. The Red Sox traded away their best player.

I have some thoughts and perspectives on this…

There is something wrong with the game or the management of the Red Sox (I don’t know which) when a large market team, like the Red Sox, feels compelled to trade away one of their great young stars and don’t feel they can keep him due to how expensive he’ll be. If this is the result of the luxury tax, and I believe it is, that tax does more harm than good. The Red Sox just threw in the towel for 2020 and for many years beyond. It’s a bad look for baseball when big market teams trade away their great young superstars. If I were a Red Sox fan, I’d be distraught right now. This is terrible for the franchise. Betts was on his way to being one of the greatest Red Sox players of all time.

The Red Sox now have Alex Verdugo as their right fielder. He seems to be a nice player. But, no matter how solid he is, he isn’t, and won’t be, Mookie Betts. Betts is one of baseball’s best players. Guys like Mookie Betts just don’t come around every day. This is a step backwards for the Red Sox.

I was reminded on Twitter that I asked the question in 2018, after the Red Sox won the World Series, if that was going to be their last World Series win this century. At the time I was kidding. It actually could be…

In 1919, the year after winning the World Series, the Red Sox sent Babe Ruth to the Yankees. Now, after 2019, the Red Sox send Mookie Betts to the Dodgers. This might set the stage for a long 84 years.

David Price finally leaves Boston as part of the trade. The Sox rid themselves of an expensive contract. The Yankees lose a pitcher they have beat-up on for years.

Good for the Dodgers. They are going for it. That is exactly what teams should do. Play big or go home. The Dodgers want a World Series victory. (They probably feel cheated out of at least two World Series based on the cheating scandals and are determined to not lose another one.)

The Yankees and the Dodgers look like the early favorites to meet in the World Series. Obviously.

I wonder if this trade convinces the Colorado Rockies that they have no chance. Do they now throw in the towel and trade Nolan Arenado? If so, do the Yankees actually get in the bidding? Arenado is greater than Miguel Andujar and Gio Urshela. Last night on the Bronx Beat Podcast, before the Betts trade was announced, E.J. Fagan, Scott Moss, and I discussed a possible Arenado trade at length. Since that recording the stakes have changed just a bit. The Yankees have to know that, while they are the favorites to win the American League, the Dodgers are monsters and will be tough to beat if they meet in the World Series. Do they Yankees now feel compelled to make their team even more of a a super team? When championship windows open, teams have to play to win. The Dodgers just did. Will the Yankees now do something huge as well?

How’s this for a World Series Game 7 Match-Up: Gerrit Cole vs Clayton Kershaw. How cool would that be?

Better yet… Game 7: Gerrit Cole vs David Price!

Let’s Go Yankees!