Three-and-a-half years ago, the Boston Red Sox made one of the most questionable trades in franchise history, sending Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers. On Friday, Betts returned to Boston for the first time since the trade, with a Green Monster-sized pile of what-ifs in tow.
Before the game, Betts was diplomatic with reporters about his time in Boston and exit, but he also pushed back on the idea he had any interest in leaving Boston during talks involving Red Sox general manager Chaim Bloom and owner John Henry."I'll let Chaim and those guys explain that, or John Henry, whoever. ... If they ever want to explain it, I'll let them explain it.
I thought I would be here, but negotiations didn't go the way we had planned, so you just pivot. That was a very, very dope chapter in my life, but the chapter I'm in now, I'm enjoying it so much and I wouldn't trade it for the world."was pessimistic Henry would ever explain his side of the negotiations.
The Betts trade was preceded by failed negotiations for a contract extension, in which the Red Sox wereto have offered him a 10-year, $300 million deal. Betts signed a 12-year, $365 million extension with the Dodgers later that year, before he had ever played a game for them. If you squint hard enough, maybe you can convince yourself that's a story of yet another athlete leaving town for more money, but it was Boston's decision to trade away the centerpiece of its 2018 World Series team rather than pay to keep him around for potentially the next championship team. The team had recently hired Bloom as Chief Baseball Officer, with an apparent mandate of cutting payroll after leading MLB in salary the previous season.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Dodgers’ Mookie Betts ready to return to Boston for first time since tradeIn the years since the February 2020 deal that brought him from the Red Sox to the Dodgers, one of the game’s best players has gone Hollywood in a way he probably couldn’t have in Boston.
Read more »
Mookie Betts gets standing ovation in return to Boston during Dodgers-Red SoxThree-and-a-half years ago, the Boston Red Sox made one of the most questionable trades in franchise history, sending Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers. On Friday, Betts returned to Boston for the first time since the trade, with a Green Monster-sized pile of what-ifs in tow.
Read more »
Mookie Betts leads Dodgers with 5 hits in suspended-game winBetts had two hits in two innings Wednesday night before rain forced the game to be suspended, then three more Thursday in a 6-1 victory in Cleveland
Read more »
Mookie Betts has 5 hits as Dodgers beat Guardians 6-1 and 9-3 in doubleheaderMookie Betts matched his career high with five hits in the completion of a suspended game and Kiké Hernández homered and doubled twice in the scheduled game to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Cleveland Guardians 6-1 and 9-3.
Read more »
Mookie Betts not sure what he'll feel walking into Fenway a 'different person'Mookie Betts records five hits in the first game of a Dodgers doubleheader sweep of the Guardians ahead of his first game in Boston since being traded.
Read more »