Boston Red Sox positioned as winners of the Mookie Betts trade
Post-trade outlook for the Boston Red Sox.
Boston’s head of baseball operations Chaim Bloom took a bold step in trading one of the best players in baseball this offseason. All eyes were on him and the Boston Red Sox prior to the 2020 season. Now, 1/3 of the season has already been lost to the pandemic situation.
Whether or not baseball resumes this season and in what form is a good question. Whatever the eventuality, clearly Mookie Betts will only have a relatively limited time in Dodger blue after the trade from Boston before becoming a free agent, his long-time goal.
LA therefore will not have had a full or even close to a full season with Mookie Betts before he likely will test the free-agent waters. Conversely, the trade is done and Boston will have the three young players either on their team or in their minor league system when the season begins if it does.
With additional cash coming off the Red Sox books for 2021, it would be an interesting final outcome if Boston went back in for Betts after this season and signed him to a long-term deal. It’s possible, but I think it’s also a fantasy.
Boston has reset its financial situation and after the 2020 season will be freed up of a bit more cash in free agency next offseason. According to baseball-reference.com, Red Sox free agents in 2021 include Jackie Bradley, Jr., and his $11M salary and Kevin Pillar at $4.25M.
A Providence Journal article noted,
"Assuming Martinez stays, the Red Sox would have about $34 million available under the first threshold of the CBT — that figures to remain at $208 million."
This assumed that J.D. Martinez does not opt-out of his deal after 2020. So the Sox would have some money to spend before invoking the luxury tax in 2021.
Next. Still can’t believe the Boston Red Sox traded Mookie Betts. dark
So the deal is done, but the final outcome is yet to be seen. Should the season resume, Betts will have his opportunity to shine for LA. He will either acclimate himself to the golden southern California sun or test the free-agent waters for the maximum in green. Or maybe both. We’ll see.
Meanwhile, Boston has three solid young players in positions of need. Whatever eventuates. Chaim Bloom made a solid deal and potentially gained three useful players in a swap for one year of Mookie Betts.
All-in-all it’s a good return for Boston and should the Red Sox go back in for Betts and land him in free agency, it will be grand slam homerun.