Good Question

I was sitting on the couch last night watching (or trying to) Leslie Jones f-bomb her way through an Netflix comedy special when my assistant general manager texted to say the Red Sox had traded Mookie Betts and David Price to the Dodgers in a three-way deal that included the Angels.  The mind reels.

Basically, the Red Sox traded the 27-year old Betts because of doubts they could sign him to a contract extension in this, his walk year.  Price went in the name of salary relief, given that the Red Sox want to get under the luxury-tax threshold.  One of the richest teams in professional sports seeking salary relief?  The mind reels.

As for Betts, he will have earned $32.5 million by the end of the 2020 regular season.  I’m tempted to ask how much more he wants or needs (and, yes, want a little of it thrown my way), but that would be wrong.  Betts’ payday will pale in comparison to that for the owners of the Red Sox if and when—forget the “if”—they sell the team.  Forbes has put a value of $3.2 billion on the team.  How much do major owners John Henry and Tom Werner need to keep the proverbial wolf on the other side of the door?  The mind wonders while trying not to reel.

Later, the assistant GM called to discuss the deal, and she posed a good question:  “Is Betts an L.A. kind of guy?”  I don’t know, but I get a feeling we’re going to find out.  And, if he’s not, there’s always free agency.