First of all, there’s more than a decent chance that Mookie Betts will still be a member of the 2020 Red Sox. As per Sox president/CEO Sam Kennedy, the team’s intention to get payroll under the $208MM luxury tax threshold is a “goal but not a mandate,” so it isn’t as if the Red Sox are going into any sort of fire sale mode. While it seems the club will trim some salaries, they could achieve a lot of those savings in other areas (i.e. other trades or non-tenders, or J.D. Martinez could opt out of his contract) before fully exploring the idea of trading the 2018 American League MVP.
This being said, it wouldn’t be much fun if this post was titled “Looking To Pour Cold Water On A Fascinating Trade Possibility.” And, with Betts still firm in his intent to test the free agent market after the 2020 season, there’s certainly a chance he will be wearing another uniform anyway on Opening Day 2021. For a Red Sox organization that is looking for a creative way to shed salary and reload its minor league system, trading Betts before his final year of team control is an option that should at least be on the table, if certainly not one to be taken lightly.
Betts earned $10.5MM in 2018 after defeating the Red Sox in an arbitration case, and his epic MVP campaign saw his salary rise to $20MM in 2019. After hitting .295/.391/.524 with 29 homers over 706 plate appearances last season, Betts is in line for another big raise in third and final trip through the arb process. Matt Swartz will be publishing MLBTR’s official arbitration projections within a few weeks, though he has informed me that Betts is currently projected to earn $27.7 or $27.8MM for the 2020 season (depending on whether Betts’ base 2019 salary is increased by a bonus should he win a Gold Glove).
That number certainly looms large in any discussion of a Betts trade, given that several teams may balk at committing that much money to a single player (even a superstar like Betts) if they have luxury tax concerns of their own. Plus, a team trading for Betts would have to be expecting to have him for one season at the most. Betts has been so adamant in exploring free agency that it’s very unlikely that he pulls a Paul Goldschmidt and signs an extension with a new team rather than finally get a crack at the open market.
With only one year of Betts on offer, the Red Sox know that trading the outfielder won’t solve all their problems. There’s no chance, for instance, of another payroll-clearing blockbuster like Boston’s legendary August 2012 trade with the Dodgers, since Betts lacks the long-term appeal that Adrian Gonzalez (the Dodgers’ primary target) held for Los Angeles.
Teams also aren’t going to clear out their farm systems for just one year of Betts, though Boston can reasonably assume to top what the Diamondbacks received from the Cardinals for Goldschmidt last December. Betts is over five years younger than Goldschmidt and a more valuable defensive player, so the Red Sox will definitely aim for more than the already-impressive package the D’Backs received — a controllable young starter (Luke Weaver), a controllable young everyday catcher (Carson Kelly), a Competitive Balance Round B pick in the 2019 draft, and another prospect in infielder Andy Young, currently ranked by MLB.com as the 23rd-best Diamondbacks minor leaguer. That said, Goldschmidt was also only making $14.5MM in salary in 2019, whereas Betts’ 2020 salary could be almost double that number.
Let’s go through the other 29 teams to see if we can find a fit as a Betts suitor…
No Chance
The Marlins, Blue Jays, Orioles, Royals, Tigers, and Mariners are all rebuilding. And the Red Sox would never trade Betts to the arch-rival Yankees, as amusing as it would be to see New York somehow land another Boston superstar almost exactly 100 years after the Babe Ruth deal.
Probably Not
The Rockies don’t have much salary wiggle room to add an expensive player like Betts. Likewise, payroll restraints will likely keep the Pirates and Diamondbacks out of the mix, though Arizona GM Mike Hazen knows Betts well from their time together in Boston. The Brewers also likely face similar financial restraints, plus they don’t have much elite young talent to grab Boston’s interest. The Rangers are another team without much in the way of blue-chip minor league talent, and while Texas is planning to spend more as the team moves into its new ballpark next season, longer-term acquisitions would seem to make more sense for the Rangers than a win-now move like acquiring Betts. Likewise, the Giants are more apt to pursue a long-term option if they go after any premium players at all (i.e. their interest in Bryce Harper last winter).
I put the Cubs a tick above the other “probably not” teams because they’re under increasing pressure to win in 2020, and could potentially be open to some type of creative swap that could see Chicago and Boston shift around several of their undesirable contracts, in addition to sending Betts to Wrigleyville. But there would seemingly be a lot of moving parts in such a deal, and the Cubs have their own set of luxury tax concerns. Plus, while the Sox and Cubs have made a few minor trades since Theo Epstein took over the Cubs’ baseball operations department, one wonder if Red Sox management could be hesitant about sending a star player Epstein’s way.
Probably Not, AL Contenders Edition
The Red Sox wouldn’t have quite the same reservations about sending Betts to another AL rival as they would about putting him into the Yankee pinstripes, but moving him within the AL East to the Rays seems unrealistic. The Sox probably also wouldn’t be too keen to further strengthen the Astros’ juggernaut lineup, though Houston is already facing something of a luxury tax crunch with its own crop of star players. The Indians have taken steps to cut back spending over the last year and can quite likely be ruled out of a Betts pursuit, as much as Cleveland is still trying to keep its contention window open for as long as possible.
While neither the Twins or Athletics are big spenders, it’s possible either team could see a Betts trade as a unique opportunity that merits a one-year payroll spike. Trading for Betts could be seen as a souped-up version of Minnesota’s strategy from the 2018-19 offseason, which making short-term acquisitions in lieu of major financial commitments. Acquiring Betts would cost more than just money, of course, and it remains to be seen if the Twins or A’s would be open to giving up the minor leaguers necessary to pry him away from the Red Sox.
Makes Some Sense
I put both the Nationals and Cardinals leaning closer to the “probably not” category, though trading for Betts would be an eye-popping way for either team to reload if Anthony Rendon or Marcell Ozuna was lost in free agency. Trading for Betts could be seen as a one-year stopgap for teams that are strongly trying to contend in 2020, and the Nats or Cards could then let him walk in free agency and pursue a longer-term star in the 2020-21 offseason (a pursuit that would likely include an attempt to re-sign Betts). It’s rather doubtful that Washington would be eager to deal from a relatively thin farm system, however, while St. Louis may have used up most of its expendable but MLB-ready pieces in the Goldschmidt trade.
The White Sox flirted with the idea of adding a superstar to the ranks with their pursuit of Harper and Manny Machado last offseason, and while Betts would be a much shorter-term addition, it would certainly announce the end of Chicago’s rebuild in a major fashion. If you’re wondering why the Pale Hose would look to add Betts for 2020 when they’re far more than just one player away from contention, the club has explored such a tactic in the past — the White Sox made an offer to the Orioles about acquiring Manny Machado in the 2017-18 offseason, when Machado was also a year away from free agency.
As incredible as it would be to see Betts and Mike Trout in the same outfield, the Angels probably aren’t willing to move top prospects for one year of Betts, especially given how GM Billy Eppler has worked hard to reload a once-barren farm system. Still, the firing of manager Brad Ausmus hints at an increasing impatience within Angels ownership, and Eppler is also entering the last year of his contract, so I can’t entirely rule the Halos out as a potential dark horse.
The Braves and Dodgers each have the prospect depth to get Boston’s attention, though neither team is likely to swap much of its top talent for just one year of Betts since neither is exactly in outright “win-now” mode. It could be argued that Los Angeles could be a bit closer to this category if the Dodgers fall short of another World Series, though the Dodgers have tended to save their biggest trades for the July 31 deadline (when they have a firmer idea of their needs) rather than the offseason.
The Win-Now Teams
Since Betts is only signed through 2020, his most logical trade matches are the teams who definitely want to contend next season, and could be most open to a bold deal to make a postseason berth happen.
As much as Phillies GM Matt Klentak has insisted that he is looking to build a sustainable contender, he’ll be expected to more immediately start bearing the fruits of the Phils’ rebuild process and the team’s splashy 2018-19 offseason. Philadelphia’s 81-81 record has led to rumblings that manager Gabe Kapler could replaced, and another down year could also put Klentak’s own job security in question, though the general manager is signed through 2022. The Phillies made big trades for J.T. Realmuto and Jean Segura last winter, though whether they have enough young talent left (or at least enough they’re willing to part with) to acquire Betts remains to be seen. Also, as much as Betts would upgrade the Phils’ middling offensive production, pitching would seem to be Philadelphia’s much more pressing need.
Perhaps no GM is under as much of a microscope as Padres general manager A.J. Preller, as executive chairman Ron Fowler is on record as saying that “heads will roll” in the organization if San Diego faces another “embarrassing” season. Assuming that the Red Sox would be okay with making another big trade with the Padres in the wake of the controversial Drew Pomeranz swap in 2016, a Betts trade would be the kind of major transaction the Padres seemed to be on the verge of making all last offseason, but never completed despite talks about numerous star players with multiple teams. Even if the Padres are more than one player away, the club’s highly-regarded minor league pipeline has so much depth that they could afford to spare a few pieces for Betts and still boast a top-five system. Would a Betts trade be the wisest long-term move? Not really, but after nine straight losing seasons, some type of step towards competitive baseball is definitely needed.
The Reds are a club in more pressing need of lineup help, and since president of baseball operations Dick Williams has set the playoffs as a firm goal for 2020, Betts could very well be a target. Betts’ salary wouldn’t be as big an issue as it would seem for a smaller-market team since the Reds are also planning to spend more. Though Williams has also hinted that the Reds are more apt to explore free agency rather than trades, these plans for an aggressive winter make Cincinnati seem like a solid bet to at least discuss a trade with the Red Sox.
The Mets further thinned out an already shallow farm system in their July trade for Marcus Stroman, and Betts’ salary could prove problematic for a team that has never been too eager to spend despite operating in the New York market. That said, the Mets are firmly planning to contend next year, and GM Brodie Van Wagenen has already shown a penchant for headline-making trades in his first season on the job. Betts would be such a clear and obvious solution to the Mets’ longstanding center field problem that, while it’s not exactly a “one player away” scenario for a team with so many bullpen questions, putting Betts alongside the likes of Pete Alonso, Michael Conforto, Jeff McNeil, and J.D. Davis makes for an awfully scary lineup.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Betts will not get traded because their fans do not want a rebuild. Betts would be waving the white flag for 2020 season.
Thanks for clearing that up. Now we can stop talking about it. When did the Red Sox hire you?
same time they hired you to do PR work for the GM
Lol, the fans don’t get a say in it.
for those interested, there’s an interesting article on how the Sox keep Betts and re-tool by trading amongst others Devers and Price. for all of the unreal possible trades that get mentioned each off season, this while making me laugh also had me intrigued.
providencejournal.com/sports/20191005/radical-stra…
I got all the way to the first trade, laughed and closed the article. That’s not even close to realistic. The Dodgers would not only hang up the phone, they would block the number.
Love the article.
I love the way that Boston reporter was disgusted thinking the Red Sox gave up too much in Devers and Proce for May, Lux, Turner and Verdugo. Like THEY were getting the raw deal… LOL!
No way cleveland or LA do those trades.
Like I said, my initial reaction was laughter but then I thought 2011 and while this is multiple deals, it might be possible if set up right. The team would have to discuss with other teams before the winter meetings since one trade depends on the other. Regardless, it was a fun article to rad through.
That article writer left his brain on the other side of this piece. Devers is a legitemate upgrade to Turner but Price is worth negative value. He’s an injury mine ready to explode, hasnt pitched like a real ace since 2015 and his salary is an overpay for what he is doing. Id say Price eats up the difference between Devers and Turner so why would the Dodgers send Verdugo, Lux and May? Devers would be an incredibly desirable piece for any team but Price just kills it.
The idea is similar to 2011 when Crawford had negative value, assuming such was then calculated. Only way Boston parts with him is to package him to get financial relief. Back then, the Dodgers wanted AGon badly and were willing to overpay to get him (I still laugh that Nick Punto was included in the deal).
That article is beyond absurd. David Price, Rafael Devers and Gilberto Jimenez for Dustin May, Justin Turner, Gavin Lux and Alex Verdugo? The read is good for a laugh, I guess.. Baseball America has Lux at 6 and May at 17.. Verdugo lost his
Convince Dustin Pedroia to retire???? No way to that unless you promise to somehow get him the money he is guaranteed. I’m sure the MLB will have a say about that.
Edit: Verdugo lost his rookie status, but he was a highly ranked prospect at the start of the year.. and he kicked ass during the season before getting hurt.
Best part was trying to convince Pedroia to retire.
Who cares where minor league players rank other than fantasy players looking for that next pick up? Teams rely mainly on their own scouting and metrics. Devers is already proven. Question is what do the Dodgers think of Price who the last year and a half has pitched very good when he wasn’t injured. Removing the cyst should make even better in 2020. If he stays, such is fine. As to Pedroia, the question is can the team offer him a long term position without violating rules? Others have left money on the table before.
The Dodgers care. This is how they operate under the current front office. They build from within with an occasional cheap free agent signing. No way in a million years are they going to trade their top prospects for a package that includes a declining pitcher in his thirties that is still owed 96 million.
i wouldn’t even trade Lux and May for Devers, let alone the other pieces AND taking on Price’s salary. Typical Boston fans over inflating the value of their own players.
it only takes one team to overpay. again in 2011, no one saw the Dodgers taking Crawford and Beckett to get Agon. I agree it’s far-fetched but strange trades have happened before. who thought PED graduate Robinson Cano was tradeable just last year?
This is a different Dodgers front office. That trade really helped Boston reboot. No way it is repeated with the Dodgers. I think that instance was two teams needing to do very specific things and they matched up perfectly.
True but there is at least one other ownership where they make great steak sandwiches that might be desperate enough to try to make another big move.
We are a year away from a 108-win season and a WSC. Giving up Betts in exchange for a package that included Renfroe or Verdugo, is hardly a surrender. And the $28M we save in salary goes a long way to signing a couple of BP arms.
Dodgers have a stacked outfield so they don’t need Betts. Padres would trade Renfroe for Betts. Renfroe is another power hitting OF that struggles against good pitchers. Redsox would be disappointed in Renfroe after allstar break he was terrible.
It would take more than Renfroe and LA does not have a stacked outfield,
the previous comment mentioned Renfroe as a trade piece. So who does LA get rid of? Cody? NO Pederson? No Verdugo/Taylor combo? No pollock who has another 3 years on a contract. Last thing dodgers need is another OF that is why it makes no sense for them to get Betts.
Pederson is not a desirable by any means.
Every time the name of a high dollar player comes up, it seems like it’s mandatory to connect him to the Dodgers, as if the Dodgers have a history of going after players of that type. Not hardly, and especially not in this case. They have way too many OF options with more team control at lower cost for them to even consider Betts. Makes no sense at all.
Actually, it makes sense inasmuch as Mookie Betts is better than any of the Dodgers’ current outfield options, barring Bellinger, and that they sought, and failed, to land a significant upgrade in said position last off-season (Harper).
Perhaps there will be more impetus in quality over quantity when they miss out on another World Series.
They never went after Harper, the sports media only assumed they should or would, and you might want to look up that kid Alex Verdugo. One way or another they will have needs this offseason but OF will not be one of them.
Not a Dodgers Fan,the Truth is they have a stacked Outfield including the Guys in the Minors that would start for other Clubs
You’re that guy who says any position player that doesnt have an OPS of at least .850 and hits left and right well is not desirable but that just shows your understanding of the game is shallow. What teams like the Dodgers demonstrate is that players like Pederson are very valuable when used in the right place. The Dodgers have gotten outstanding production from Pederson by excepting his limitations and using his talents.
I wouldn’t trade Renfroe for Betts. Unless the Padres win it all in 2020 that would basically be the same as releasing Renfroe.
I agree that the LAD OF is stacked, but Verdugo is part of that stacked OF.
IRT Renfroe, he was hurt in the second half, and just had an operation on a bone spur.
I think fans still think the Dodgers still operate like they did when the team was sold to Guggenheim Baseball Management in 2012. That spending spree was to re-energize the fan base and get the best tv contract possible. Now it’s about cost control and analytics.
Exactly. It is hardly plausible to think of the Dodgers going after Betts in free agency in 2021 let alone for them to trade controllable talent to get him for just one year. Just not their MO.
None of these teams match up well. Perhaps they move JDM(either through opt-out or trade) and eat a bunch of money to move Price instead. That would accomplish the same goal as moving Betts.
If Goldschmidt, even more of a fan favorite/face of the franchise type player, can be dealt – anyone can be dealt. And the Sox save face by extending their other, much more affordable offensive stars- Xander, Deavers, Benintendi, etc. Red Sox fans are smart enough to understand the gains in moving him now, especially because moving ONE of their stars isn’t a case of “blowing it up” for a rebuild.
Goldschmidt was only making 14 million. Big difference
I understand it’s roughly a 10mil difference, but Betts is a 5 tool player unlike 2020 Goldy. Given the differences in these teams payroll and spending habits, not really a “big difference.” My main point is that if the Sox unload him for a reasonable haul, Sox nation will support it…as long as they extend the other core young players while they are still somewhat affordable.
It will be closer to a 15 million $ difference. And I think if you can glean anything from this article it’s that the market for Betts will be much smaller than most people would expect due to the increased value teams place in prospects and the impetus to avoid luxury taxes.
Betts is a great player, that’s not up for debate. What is up for debate is how much the Sox can get in return and how the front office and fan base will act and react if the return is worse than the Goldschmidt trade, which it will be.
Value would have to be better than the Goldy return because as much as Boston desires to cut payroll this year, financially last season AZ HAD to either plan on moving Grienke who then was perceived as untradeable or trade Goldy. Boston if ownership is willing to take the financial hit could always sign Betts as a free agent. They’ve indicated it would be tough to have both him and JDM in 2020 but it could be done. If the deal for Betts is not right, it doesn’t get done.
Twice as much money for twice as much player.
Again I’m not arguing against Betts being far better than Goldy.
I agree with you Dewey, my prediction is he’s not traded because the Sox don’t get an offer they feel is good enough. It’s going to be really hard to identify a WIN NOW team that’s willing to pay near 30 million in cash and a prospect haul for one guaranteed year of Betts. Just not happening
I just posted about where great steak sandwiches are made. Ownership in Philly might be desperate enough to if not overpay, give Boston salary relief by also taking Price for example. As great as Mookie is, freeing $60+M before this years free agents hit the market could allow the team to focus on going forward immediately. Mookie deserves his rewards but not negotiating has bigger implications. I still don’t expect a trade simply due to the enormity of the money involved but again, the 2011 trade surprised everyone.
If a GM is directed by fans he’ll soon be sitting with them watching the games.
many GMs do what the fans say not what they should do. How many players not traded to contending teams last year that are few agents now?
So if a team did not trade a player at the deadline you say it means the fans told the GM what to do?
How about the fans who wanted their team to trade but did not?
You analogy makes no sense.
no what I am saying is some teams do not make good decisions in thinking the fans would rather see all stars on a bad team than some upcoming players to build around. If a player on a non-contending team has a upcoming free agent why keep him around if he has trade value? Best gets some prospects for him and resign him next year.
I’m gonna call you the hammer because you nailed it. We saw this with the Giants with Madison Bumgarner and Will Smith this year.
Have you paid any attention to baseball over the last 20 years? Boston literally have gone worst to first before, and they have dont even have to go that low again in 2020. They could easily replace Mookie with Piscotty and probably still win 90+ next year, while upgrading the farm.
They could easily replace Mookie with Piscotty and probably still win 90+ next year, while upgrading the farm.
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Not everyone understands this concept. I mentioned it before. Any trade could include receiving a RF replacement. And saving $28M would allow us to sign someone even if we didn’t get a RF in return.
On virtually no team, does the loss of one player spell doom. Like with Goldschmidt, AZ just brought in someone worth 2 WAR less. Not the end of the world.
Unfortunately, the Red Sox fans don not run the organization nor pay Mr Betts……
That is up to the owner.
Red Sox fans will pack the part and root for whoever plays right field in the future whether that’s Mookie or somebody else.
While Fenway will continue to draw, older fans remember when that wasn’t the case. More important though is NESN and while Sox fans are passionate, they are no different than other teams’ fans. NESN’s ratings went down insignificantly when the team was last out of the playoffs.
Significantly.
It’s not a rebuild.
One of the most idiotic posts. Tigers has to trade JV & get something for him. Betts will simply cost too much & the Red Sox had a chance to lock him two years ago. Now that Harper & Machado got paid, Mookie is going to get that kind of money. Red Sox have to trade Mookie & it’s not even open for debate. They are not simply going to offer him a QO & they get a lousy draft pick back. They might not get top prospects but 3 tier two prospects are better than draft picks. It’s freaking so obvious what’s going to happen it’s ridiculous. If they keep him & wait until the July trading deadline, it could get complicated. What if Boston is in the WC? That would be the exact situation Detroit faced with Scherzer. They should have traded him in the offseason or at the deadline but they ended up being in it so they got one draft pick. Christian Stewart was the pick. Took 4 years & he’s not better than the three prospects they could have received. Mookie is gone so deal with it.
Actually, the Tigers were confident they could sign Max Scherzer and tried well before he was a free agent. Scherzer’s camp was determined to explore free agency and did not negotiate in good faith. They were using the negotiations to sett the highest floor they could for free agency. The Tigers were fighting for post season and never tried to trade him. To assume the Tigers could’ve received or accepted three prospects in a trade for Scherzer is conjured..
That is one of the reasons I SMH when I hear a player wants to comeback to a team. They all say that so they have 1 more team to negotiate with. There is always some team that will over pay for a free agent.
Lock him up two years ago? Mookie as I recall has always publicly said he wanted to test free agency. Sox offered $200k total not as a final offer but to see if there was a way to get a deal done. To my knowledge, neither a Mookie or his agent have ever made a contract demand other than say he would continue to go year to year via arbitration.
The Tigers won their division in 2014 and Scherzer was a huge reason why. Why on Earth would they have even considered trading him at that point? Free agent or not. They were trying to win a championship and nothing they could have gotten for Max Scherzer would have helped them in that endeavor more than, well… Max Scherzer.
I’m a Red Sox fan and I want a rebuild. Just one year. Tell JDM and Betts to get lost and focus on bringing up some young folks.
@bradthebluefish based on the way Red Sox fans on here talk about JDM and his contract, you can forget about him opting out.
Not only is trading betts NOT waiving a white flag, but many RSN fans would LOVE to see him traded just because of reality.
Reality is you wouldn’t want to trade bogey. Pedroia has guaranteed money that is a sunk cost.
Nobody is buying sale or price without significant money tossed in, and, if you combine what you would cover in AAV cash payments to what you pay for any replacement player, even a journeyman, it’s costs MORE in CBT to replace either.
Realistically, there’s too much money to long term expect the red sox to guarantee themselves of an ability to match any reasonable FA offer.
Likewise, if a team below tax threshold trades for betts they get a 1st round pick back by doing a QO. There is serious question the red sox get there, which means boston only gets a 4th rounder in that scenario.
The SMART move is take a trade that compensates you the value of 1 yr of mookie plus the 1st round pick at the back end. You do that, even if you include 5m cash this season to get a better return, you have to play the long game. You can significantly retool for several years success at the expense of one year of just one player.
If the redsox trade Bettis would many fans and media in Boston be angry if they didn’t get a over whelming package for him? Yes they would. First dismiss all the teams in their division of making a trade because none of them would want to help the redsox. Now take out all the non-contending teams. Now take out the teams without anything to trade of value. you are left with a very tiny market for him. Only trade i see that would fit will be Carlos Correa and Reddick from Houston for Betts. Straight across. which would make both team still contenders. Correa could move to 2B for the sox. They would get a extra year of Correa.
Agreed.
Not only is trading betts NOT waiving a white flag, but many RSN fans would LOVE to see him traded just because of reality.
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Absolutely spot-on 100% correct. It depends on the package of course, but I’d like to see him trade. I’d have traded Bogaerts too, had he not signed. It’s a business on both sides. I’d sign some marginal talents, like Holt, JBJ, Brewer, Taylor, etc. (the list is shorter than I thought), if we are getting a good deal. And I’d allow star players like Betts & JDM to walk, if they wanted over-market prices.
This has to be a long-term, 20 year plan. No matter how good guys are, that doesn’t mean we have to break the bank on all of them.
And I would say the same thing for Trout.
You couldn’t be more wrong… trading him does not mean rebuild, it simply means getting something is better than just letting him walk… and with the opinion mookie has expressed about free agency, I think hed understand and also be willing to come back if the Sox came at him with the right offer, although that’s probably unlinkely… the breakout seasons Bogaerts and Devers have had also make trading mookie easier to swallow, and let’s face it, the farm system needs to be replenished
Fans didn’t want the Colts to leave town too. Fans… lol
Henry basically already told the fans he was waving the white flag when he said he wanted to cut the team’s payroll.
Think the Braves and Padres are the two teams that make the most sense. Both have top tier farm systems and have money to retain Mookie after he hits free agency. Both teams are in that win now phase as Braves are a player away from a WS and the Padres are a team that could really be helped by another star to help develop that young team.
but the Braves are loaded with young future stars in the OF, 2 of which are knocking on the door. As fun as it would be watching Mookie and Acuna cover ground, it doesn’t fit the Braves MO in my opinion.
Yeah that one player ain’t a OF either. I think the braves want to get over the hill they need a true #1 ace. If they resign Donaldson and add Cole they be WS contenders imo
I agree Miklo…braves offense is fine…they need to get a leader for the staff and a bullpen then they are in their way
Braves offense is fine if JD signs an extension. If not Riley is not the answer. If the Braves get somebody in a deal this offseason I would rather it be Kris Bryant
You can re-frame that and say that they shouldn’t trade for him because they have money to retain Mookie after he hits free agency. Exact same outcome, except this way they get to keep their prospects. Prospects + Mookie will always > just Mookie.
Even if the Mets somehow managed to get Betts they still would be only the 3rd best team in the NL East Division in 2020.
Thor for Mookie but it only makes sense if the Mets can get him to sign an extension.
Gonna be hard to trade a guy so open with wanting to test FA
Maybe not hard to move him but hard to get what Boston would expect.
Would make more sense for the Mets to wait a year, sign Mookie in FA and keep Thor. Mookie has said multiple times he isn’t signing an extension anyway.
Great article.
I’ll put your mind at ease at the Angels being a dark horse. NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN in a million years.
The front office seems very set on Upton, Trout and a Goodwin/Adell season in right field.
What if Upton’s moved to first? He’s getting older and I think I heard some rumor about that happening to keep him healthy.
Kris Bryant will most likely test free agency too. Perhaps. Deal centering (not the only players in the deal understandably) around Betts and JBJr (cubs need a CF too) for Kris Bryant (he can play OF and Benintendi can move to CF….remember, not the only players in deal over reactors! Not going to happen, but a stove league topic starter
Mets would be able to do something, though may not be the strongest offer available. Thor, Davis, Lugo, and the two kids they drafted last year (‘players to be named later’ ala Tre Turner) would give Boston some needed pieces at the MLB level while getting two highly regarded prospects just recently drafted for future depth/trade pieces.
The Mets would never give anything close to that up for a one year rental. Betts is a free agent in 2020 and is almost certainly gonna test the market. Everyone you suggested has two plus years of control still. A more realistic offer would be Conforto and Matz for Betts only if the Mets have no intention of offering Conforto a long term extension.
Agreed. I believe Mike Francesa suggested Thor and Diaz – change of scenery candidates – for Betts. I don’t see it, but your idea is plausible.
Thor and nimmo.
You don’t have to make players drafted last year PTBNL’s in trades anymore. They changed the rules. Go read about it.
I have the Indians clocked in about $100m next year including arb and minimum contracts. They spent $121m this year and $144m the previous year. I would assume they could get to that $120m mark, which I think puts them somewhere near in play for Betts if they so wanted.
Cleveland will not trade for Betts.
This is a nice write-up but I’m going to disagree with a basic premise. I don’t see the Goldschmidt trade return as the floor, because the situations are not comparable. No question in my mind that Betts is a better, younger player, and I’d rather have him. But Betts will cost twice as much in salary in the first year as Goldschmidt, and will not sign an extension. So, what you are trading for is, say, $28M in salary and a competitive balance pick a year from now for, say, a 7WAR season. One 7-WAR season. How much can you give up for that in addition to the salary hit? It depends on whether Betts will be a difference-maker and either make your team a legitimate contender, or elevate them into elite status–for one year. The Red Sox might find a team who has just the right combination of competitive status and prospect currency to do it, but it’s going to be a narrow market if they want a Goldschmidt-plus return as a minimum bid. So, I’d say there’s a very good chance the offers at those levels won’t be there, and Betts will stay with Boston (and they will likely make it back to the playoffs). Boston doesn’t want to sell cheap, and an acquirer won’t want to bet the farm.
There’s going to have to be compromise on Boston’s end, for example I could see them trading Betts to restock the terrible farm, they could easily get 5 high ceiling low level guys in return. I don’t think there’s a better match in terms of volume than there is with Oakland other than maybe Texas (not contending next year) and TB (wont trade within division if Boston themselves are trying to compete next year).
Nice comment.
Trade packages vary so widely in terms of nature and quality it isn’t helpful to harp of one past package as a comp.
I see him getting traded.
Likeliest teams:
Atlanta
Minnesota
Colorado
Also possible:
Tampa
Oakland
Mets
Less likely:
San Diego
Texas
Dodgers
Betts to oakland for aj puk, contract of blake treinen and a lower minors prospect.
You’d move Puk for 1 season of Betts?!
Like Boston wants another bad RP?
I like the Padres for this one. If they trade for Betts, then they start off with two redundant pieces-Renfroe & Naylor. Renfroe slots right into Betts’ position, and Naylor is a candidate for 1B/DH. I don’t think Preller thinks twice about those two players, which makes it that much easier to decide on the remainder.
And the fact that the owner has already threatened Preller’s job makes him just so much more motivated.
Oakland has historically, ALWAYS made this move! Matt Holliday is a prime example.
Luzardo, Puk and Murphy are off the table, but I can see Oakland having the pieces, they are flush with INF prospects who don’t have a place in the long term. Mateo, Barreto, Neuse, Treinen and a lower level prospect for Betts probably gets it done. Maybe replace Treinen with Kaprelian or Jefferies but the A’s certainly have more ready-now guys at AAA than anyone else and Betts is the exact guy they need to contend in 2020. Throw in Piscotty or move him in a 3-teamer if that gets it done. Boston’s not going to trade him within the division and the Twins have too many young stud OFers locked in. A’s only have Piscotty, and his contract is tradeable.
they are flush with INF prospects who don’t have a place in the long term. Mateo, Barreto, Neuse, Treinen and a lower level prospect for Betts probably gets it done.
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Except for Treinen, who is hurt, none of the others can play. Mateo is 24, and suffered a 145/29 K/W in the PCL. Barreto has a career 85/7 K/W. None of these guys are regulars, and none of them are rated prospects. FG has Mateo rated as a 45, and Neuse as a 40+.
The Red Sox don’t have to trade Betts. They will explore trade possibilities but this is a team that, if it’s starting pitching rebounds, they can win it all. The Red Sox chances next year will rely on there starters rebounding. The Red Sox aren’t just going to trade one of the best players in baseball for other teams also rans. If they don’t get the offer they want in the offseason they just keep Betts see how the starters Sale, Price and I think they resign Porcello on a 1 year make good deal. If they fall out at the deadline then they move him as the best difference maker at the deadline. The Red Sox are set on the left side of the infield if they move Betts in the offseason it will be for a top blue chip pitching prospect of that offer doesn’t happen then so be it. Keep Betts and make another run I’m fine either way.
All true, but even you have to admit that the Sox have some real issues with both relief and questions as far as starters are concerned. The Sale and Price questions aren’t going away and they still have to sign another starter if they don’t re-sign Porcello which they haven’t talked about doing anywhere.
And the elephant in the room is Henry saying he wanted to get under the Lux tax so the team is going to be different as they jettison pieces and try to re-tool.
If he keeps Betts, he’s ponying up $30 million in Arb this year-end still has the issue of what to do long term.
I’m just saying the Red Sox will see what they can get for Mookie in a trade in the offseason but don’t have to trade him. The Sox brass has said they would like to get to under the lux tax but it’s not a mandate. If no one is really willing to step up then you keep him. The Sox pen will be surprisingly better next year if the Starters step up and pitch like they are capable of pitching. If they don’t and the Red Sox struggle again you can trade him at the deadline. The Red Sox could always reset the lux tax after next year as well. If JDM doesn’t opt out this year he almost certainly will after next year. That would make it easy to reset the lux tax in 2021 and then retool again in 2022. The Red Sox will go as far their starters allow them to go in 2020 it’s that simple.
I like it all except resigning Porcello. I kbow you are suggesting he is taking a one year extremely cheap contract but I dont think it’ll be that low. How low would it have to be to not just roll w the better of Darwinzon or Houck as the 5th starter? They wont be worse than our 5th spot this year and our first 4 will be the difference in playing baseball or golf again next October.
Teams and players should just call Matt Swartz and ask him what the player should make.
He’s right so often….
It’s hard for me to see him being traded. If he had an extra year of control, it might be different. The two teams (Braves and Padres) with the systems to swing a deal likely wouldn’t. In the Braves case, they probably don’t surrender that type of package when they wouldn’t go either the years or the dollars to keep him in the fold when he hits FA. For the Padres, you’d really have to ask if he’d re-sign there long-term. While SD is a beautiful city, and they have some great young pieces; is that park somewhere a hitter would want to play given how guy’s stats seem to dip there. Plus I think SD would see a SP as a higher priority.
If the thought of him signing there long-term is a must you shouldn’t be looking to trade for him in the first place.
I just spiraled and read a bunch of comments from the famed Nick Punto trade. That was fun
I could see the Cardinals especially if Ozuna signs with somewhere else!! Trade Tyler O’Neal, Dexter Fowler, Alex Reyes, and Junior Fernandez!! Then have Randy Arozerena or Dylan Carlson as your 4th OF.
Lol at Fowler being included, that’s a non starter.
Fowler has a full NTC and the fact that he’s not and offensive star make that proposal iffy, at best. O’Neill is a K machine, Reyes can’t stay healthy and that basically makes Fernandez the best part of the package. That’s not exactly enticing.
Don’t be foolish. The Red Sox would never trade him for those bums. They would just keep him. If the Cardinals want Mookie, they need to trade Jack Flaherty.
Whether it’s for Betts or E-Rod, I’d love for the Twins to make an offer to Boston. We got Larnach to headline either deal, perhaps even Buxton.
And while I can’t imagine the FO is keen on trading any of our top pitching prospects such as Graterol, Balazovic, or Duran, given our sub-par pitching staff, if they had to it’d probably be Duran.
Then again, we do have plenty of quality ‘under the radar’ pitching prospects as well, such as Alcala, Vallimont, Canterino, Thorpe, Enlow, Colina, Smeltzer, Dobnak, Chalmers, Gonsalves, Winder, Sands, and Jax.
E-Rod? WTF are you talking about?
White Sox don’t have the pieces to get Betts. Wait a year and sign him a sa a FA.
Boston should trade Betts or lose him at the end of the season for a draft choice. The problem is few teams are going to be willing to trade a bunch of top prospects and take on 28M for just one year. I don’t see that happening.
Cardinals should package their “Look at Me” four pack of hot dogs for Betts. Bader, Wong, Martinez and Martinez.
Bader can’t hit his weight, Wong isn’t going anywhere
Yeah, don’t trade Wong because Edman can’t play 2nd. Funny.
Keep those guys (whoever they are). We’ll take Jack Flaherty.
As good as Betts is, there is zero chance the Cards give up Flaherty for 1 year of him
The Reds depleted their system with the trade failures of last year they don’t need to completely destroy it
The Red Sox and Reds actually match up pretty well, think Winker, R. Iglesias and some lesser prospects.
Dream on.. We’ll take Luis Castillo.
If that’s your price, you’ll get a draft pick from the QO
the Red Sox should certainly retool this offseason. one retool year can go a long way to creating lasting success.
Seriously? The Pirates have no shot of landing Mookie Betts.
He’s too expensive. The Pirates already have Reynolds, Marte and Polanco to play the Outfield, and the farm system is still coming back from the Chris Archer trade.
There’s a good chance Marte is traded this offseason.
Polanco may never get back to what he was.
The Pirates are still owned by Nutting.
Huntington is still the GM.
Those are the 4 reasons the Pirates won’t get him.
The Nats and Cards seem like the only teams that would pull the trigger figuring resigning Betts isnt a lock. all other teams either dont have the prospects to trade for him, dont need a rental OF, or, in the case or such teams as the Braves for example, have young outfielders ready that would make trading them foe Betts an unwise decision.
What hurts the return for Boston is the fact that Betts won’t sign an extension with the team he’s traded to and of course his salary. But there could be a match with the Mets they have 2 players (1B/LF) Dom Smith and (LF/DH/3B) JD Davis both are young – controllable are doing well in the majors and have no positions in 2020. Never know if pieces need to be added or money exchanged but there’s an opportunity between both teams.
I think the Jays make more sense as a potential trading partner than you are giving them credit for. Assuming that they could sign Betts to a long-term extension, he would fit perfectly into their plans.
The obvious caveats being the Jays’ willingness to part with any of their pitching prospects (or whether any of them are even good enough to attract Boston’s attention) and the Red Sox’s willingness to trade within the division. That said, as has been noted by several others, I can’t see the Sox trading Betts. It’s not like they have a bad team, they could easily make the playoffs next year.
If Betts is willing to sign with Toronto, sure. I doubt he wants to play in Toronto.
Betts seems to be a really intelligent player. Think he sees overall picture of lower value of both Canadian dollar high taxes of california and few other states and will weigh that in, some players have in the past.
Why wouldn’t he want to, though? There’s a perception that players don’t want to sign in Toronto, but other than Russell Martin, they haven’t made much of an effort to sign any big name free agents in the past few years.
You could very well be right, and Betts might have no interest in Toronto, but the Jays do have a lot of offer. Players are paid in US dollars but spend about two thirds of the season in Canada allowing them to take advantage of their extra purchasing power. Toronto is, by all accounts, a world class city and, once they get there, professional athletes invariably love it. They have a stadium with a roof, so you don’t have to worry about playing home games in the cold or rain. People often talk about the tax rate in Canada being an issue, but realistically, taxes in Canada aren’t any higher than in the State and are actually lower than some states (like California). Finally, with the Jays he would also have a chance to play long term with guys like Vlad Jr. and Bo Bichette.
tldr: You’re probably right, Betts that wouldn’t want to play with the Jays. But I don’t think they should be dismissed out of hand as a potential landing spot for him.
They shouldn’t be dismissed? Ok, I’ll bite.
The offer the Blue Jays can give is prospects they do not want to trade for a guy who’s guaranteed to play 1 (ONE) season in what should be another lost year for the Blue Jays. To say Toronto is a potential landing spot is a pipe dream at-best, and very short sighted.
IF, and I mean if, Betts has any interest in playing with Vlad, Bo and company, that would mean a massive extension. To comply with that, Randal Grichuk would have to be dealt to Boston to help offset the cost. Would Boston take Grichuk? Absolutely not. Boston would have zero interest in Grichuk.
That is why a Betts to Toronto idea can easily be dismissed.
Grichuk’s only making 10 million
Is that so? Could have sworn he’s making $13-mil in 2020 followed by three seasons of $10.33.
Even if you were correct, what is your point? My point is, Jays would need some salary relief after 2020 to use for other parts they will inevitably need. There would be no reason to pay Grichuk and Betts $45 million’ish combined to play 1 position. Even if Betts were to play CF there is no reason to keep Grichuk. Grichuk has to be dealt if the Blue Jays were to get in on Betts.
Mookie for Bryant
3rd time this article has been posted. Oh well it is Boston spmlookmformit at least once a week from now on.
Seems no team has enough for Mookie. Damn Philly’s fault for setting the bar so high with that crazy Harper deal. It will be very depressing not seeing Betts in a Red Sox uniform. But eventually I’ll get over it. Easier to get over it if he goes to NL though.
Mookie will look good in any uniform.
God I hope the giants don’t trade for him. Almost everybody on the team is washed up so we’d win 82 games and we’d ruin our future so it won’t be a build up trade either with no good young players on the team besides Mauricio Dubon. I hope Farhan Zaidi sees this
He’s worth no more than a #1 pick since that will be the cost a year from now. There just aren’t many teams with room for a $30m player inside of a less than $208m budget, plus giving up young talent.
Ummm….You do realize that the team that trades for him will get a #1 pick in compensation if they don’t re-sign him right?
Go look at all those teams on TV currently in the playoffs. Adding Mookie to any one of them instantly makes them the favorite to win the WS. 30HRs, 30 SBs, .300+ avg., 7+ WAR. He’s worth A LOT.
So? We’d literally have to give up our top 3 prospects and Seth Corry to get him. To me that outweighs getting just one compensation pick for not re-signing him. And I’m sorry but just Mookie won’t get us to the playoffs.
I’m literally a giants fan lol
After reading these posts, I have to agree with Bruin1012 that Mookie, in so many words, stays in Boston and signs a 5-6 year deal for something like $135-140M. The list of teams that would sign him for this much is small and Mookie does like playing in Boston where he is a fan favorite. His negotiating position is really not that strong. As for JD Martinez, he deserves a two year extension, so that his salary jumps up to the $125-130M range. His performance, thus far equals or exceeds front office expectations. And he is capable enough to be the 3rd or 4th OF in the Red Sox defense. Save and except Pearce, Porcello, Moreland who it 19 dingers P/T) and JBJ there isn’t much money too be saved by cutting current players loose. I personally think that ownership is setting up their negotiation strategy to deal with individual players and raise ticket prices for 2020 with all this talk about not signing Mookie long term. Guys like him only come along once in a decade. Ownership isn’t crazy…
Disagree.
Mookie is far superior to machado and harper, and we know he eyes a contract between those and trout. It’s buying his age 27-onwards seasons as well.
Mookie probably looks between an 8-10 year pact, and, figure 27-32m aav. There’s NO WAY he’s going to want to sign a deal for less than he’s getting in arbitration.
As far as JD goes, he produced this year, but, below what he has in the past. This was as part of an offense that was one of mlb best, so it wasn’t like he lacked protection in the lineup. Right now there is a 3 yr deal running through his age 36 season. I don’t want to buy ages 37 or 38. If he opts out, fine, let him. Historically he has had some injury issues, recall the protections DD wanted built into the back end of the existing deal. Those concerns aren’t gone in the long term. 20+ mil per year for a defensively limited DH is more than enough.
I have no interest in the Sox resigning Betts. Whatever team gives him a 10 year deal will regret it. Power ages better than speed, so that contract will be horrible. Let some other sucker such as the Phillies or Padres give out more dumb contracts. I said both machado and Harper’s deals would be a disaster. Trade Betts and get some young controllable pitching. Boston is great at drafting position players but struggles developing pitching!
I agree on both issues. I think JDM is priced pretty well. I’d be surprised, not shocked, if he opted out.
If Betts is available for say $260M/7, I’d be okay with that. That’s the Arenado contract. But I am guessing that he is looking to top Harper’s contract.
And the secondary issue, for the RS, is that we are increasingly top heavy on the salaries. I think BB requires a lot more depth, and a lot less superstar power.
Not sure how the Mets make it all the way to the end of the article. One, does anyone really see them adding a $30 million salary? Two, let’s assume you are the GM and Wilpons come to you and say you can increase the payroll that much- are you adding Betts, at the cost of either minor leaguers or young major leaguers who you’d then have to replace; or use that money to fill the holes in the bullpen, not to mention adding a couple of starters?
The Mets have a lot of $$ coming off the books after 2020 (Cespedes,Wright,Ramos and Lowrie) that’s $60 mil give or take they can offer Betts an extension so I would offer Conforto,D.Smith and Familia just to match up the $$ Betts is getting next year for Betts and extend him. I think Conforto and Smith will hit a lot of HR’s in that small right field wall
Right field in Fenway is one of the toughest places to hit home runs. I think you are confusing right field in Fenway to Right field in Yankee stadium.
Whole heartedly agree Bruin. People seem to overlook Fenway is probably the toughest RF in the game to play defense at and has been for years, yet Betts.. IMO is the best in the game at in and the best Boston has had in my time watching the Sox, even better than 8 time GG winning great Dwight Evans.
“Assuming that the Red Sox would be okay with making another big trade with the Padres in the wake of the controversial Drew Pomeranz swap in 2016…”
More like assuming that the Padres would be okay with making another big trade with the Red Sox after they traded them an injured and overrated Anderson Espinoza.
Regardless of that however, the field of teams that would trade for Betts is strictly limited to the likely 2020 World Series contenders, of which the Padres aren’t one.
Why would any rebuilding team mortgage its future for a two tear rental? Makes no sense. The White Sox would be terrible and stuck in rebuild mode the whole two years he’s with the club. And why would he stick around after that? Please stop writing this junk.
He’s a one year rental genius
And your point?
That you were wrong
He’s a 1-yr rental, which makes it even more foolish for a rebuilding team to unload top prospects for him. He makes more sense for a contender. I am not wrong about that.
You said Betts was a 2-year rental.
But yes, his market is strictly limited to established contenders.
Because the WS, right or wrong, are convinced that their window is coming up. Minny was 78-84 in 2018. What right did they have to think that they could compete in 2019? If nothing else, Betts would do wonders for their attendance.
Minn didn’t run around trading impact prospects for rentals before they were squarely in contention. And all that attendance would go away the following year when Betts leaves.
mark you’re too kind with probably not. the bucs have no chance in hell.
Betts to the Mets!
The angels will land Mookie Betts the day Snoop dog quits smoking weed.
First of all, trading Betts doesn’t mean your giving up on next season. I would reach out to the Braves as they make the most sense since they are loaded with young controllable pitching. I doubt JD will opt out since DH’s aren’t getting big contracts. Get a couple of young arms for Betts and the Sox line-up is still loaded. I would try and trade Price by paying 10 million a year of his contract. I don’t want to hear he has no value because he is still a decent pitcher and would probably pitch better in another market. Also see what you can get for JBL who I wanted them to trade last season after having that big post season. These moves would shed salary to spend on other areas and give the Sox some quality prospects.
On Price they’d have to pay more like 16-20M of the 32M. Nobody is taking him at 22 a year.
I have no interest in the Sox resigning Betts. Whatever team gives him a 10 year deal will regret it. Power ages better than speed, so that contract will be horrible. Let some other sucker such as the Phillies or Padres give out more dumb contracts. I said both machado and Harper’s deals would be a disaster. Trade Betts and get some young controllable pitching. Boston is great at drafting position players but struggles developing pitching!
The Phillies should offer up good prospects for Mookie with the proviso that he sign a contract extension similar to what he thinks he’d command as a FA after 2020. An outfield of Harper, Mookie and Kingery is pretty solid.
But the author is right, we need starting pitchers more than a bat. If the owner is gonna spend more of his “stupid money” this year, it should be for Gerrit Cole.
Mookie has said on multiple occasions that he isn’t signing any extension.
And besides, if the Phillies’ only goal is to get him signed long term and are willing to just pay him whatever he wants, it makes more sense to wait a year and make a play for him in free agency.
Nah, Phillies need to win big in 2020. Fan base isn’t gonna settle for another plain vanilla .500 season.
Well if that’s the case why does it matter if he extends or not?
I would trade Betts to the Phillies for Hoskins and a pitcher!
Probably not gonna happen. First, Hoskins still has a few more years of team control before he can become a FA. Second, way too soon for the Phillies to write off Hoskins after one bad (Very bad.) half season.
JMHO, but no team in its right mind is gonna empty out their farm system for one year of Mookie, especially if he is adamant about pursuing FA opportunities after 2020.
Fact is, if the Red Sox believe they have just as good a chance to sign FA Mookie as any other MLB team, they might as well keep him, at least until the July 2020 trade deadline. If they are in the hunt for the AL East title or a shoo-in for the wild card, they keep him. If not, they can trade him at that time to the highest bidder and pursue him later when he’s a FA.
You can re-frame that and say if the Red Sox believe they have just as good a chance to sign FA Mookie as any other team, then they should definitely trade him. They c0uld pull a Chapman and trade him for a haul of prospects then bring him back.
if the Red Sox believe they have just as good a chance to sign FA Mookie as any other team, then they should definitely trade him.
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That’s what I’m thinking.
A-He’s lying and has no intention of returning to the RS, in which case, trade him.
B-He’s telling the truth and loves Boston, in which case, trade him.
But we still need to think of him like he was any other 7 WAR player.
Any other 7-WAR player who was 1 year out from FA
Does anyone see a case like a late season trade to a needy contender then resign the next year like the yanks recently had done with Chapman? ? ?
I could see it. It all depends on Betts, and whether he wants top dollar. Most of these contracts don’t work out in the long run. Harper had a 4.2 and Machado had a 3.1. Fine players, but unless you are stocked with rookies, and need an over the top move, I wouldn’t bother chasing him.
If comes back and says the NYY are offering $270M/10, but he’ll take $240/8 from the RS, then we can talk. But we need to treat him like we would any other FA. Like Mookie says, it is just a business.
everyone at the negotiating table is going to laugh when betts says he’s better defensively than goldschmidt. they don’t even play the same position. i’m already laughing
Thank you for letting everyone know that they do not play the same position.
evidently the writer didn’t
Two teams that can use Betts as a 1-year rental, Cubs and Dodgers. Cubs have a small window left, Dodgers have a larger window with plenty of chips.
Betts for YAZ and a pitcher with details within
There will be plenty of talks about Betts during the GM and Winter meetings but he is going to be on the Red Sox in 2020. The Red Sox are looking to move Price, however, his contract to his elbow issues will make that impossible for now. Odds are that Betts or Price will be moved around the trade deadline next year.
No rush to move Betts but also no point on keeping him. He gets moved if they find a good deal. The Red Sox are in the driver’s seat.
The Red Sox won’t do those big $ Trout, Harper, Machado, Price deals right in here so what’s the point of keeping Betts? They have just publicly stated they are cutting payroll and Betts is a player that has trade value and they likely won’t resign.
The scenario that makes the most sense is that the Red Sox allow Mookie Betts to have a great year with the Red Sox in 2020 and then issue him a qualifying offer which will require any team signing him to relinquish a draft pick. that way the Red Sox will get one last year out of Mookie Betts and we’ll get something for him. It also will get his payroll off the books which will allow the team to fund a develop other young talent as they will have more money to do so. if you add up all of the players that got long-term huge contracts as free agents you will clearly see that that is a foolish way to spend your money if you’re a baseball team. just look at the contracts that Miguel Cabrera Albert Pujols David Price Giancarlo Stanton Pablo Sandoval Hanley Ramirez Carl Crawford Jacoby Ellsbury got in recent years. if those teams had a chance to get out of those contracts I’m sure they all would. So why add Mookie Betts to that list?
They could get a better return than that comp pick for him now.