When was the last time the Red Sox traded a player of Mookie Betts’ caliber? I don’t recall it happening in my lifetime.
I remember them trading a disgruntled Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers at the deadline in 2008. But that was much, much different. Manny, who wasn’t half the athlete Betts is, knew he was on his way out. He held a sign in the dugout one night that read, “I’m going to Green Bay for Brett Favre, straight up!” The curtain had closed on his “Manny being Manny act.” He had to go.
In 2014, they traded Jon Lester to the A’s (again, at the deadline). That was different too. Lester carried the rotation to a World Series championship the year before, the Red Sox made him a terrible offer for a contract extension during the offseason and things turned sour from there.
Lester already had one foot out the door before the Red Sox sent him to Oakland. He had to go.
Betts is one of the best five-tool players to wear the Red Sox’ uniform. He’s the type of player fans want to see at Fenway through his entire career. But by trading Betts, who’s under team control through the 2020 season, the Red Sox give themselves a chance to fill multiple voids in one move. The bullpen needs a makeover, the starting rotation could use a boost and the farm system has little to gloat about. The first two are very responsible for the 6.5-game deficit the Red Sox are chasing in the Wild Card race.
There won’t be a lack of interest for Betts on the trade market this winter.
Atlanta, to me, seems like a good fit for him. The Braves are at the top of the standings in the National League East. They might be looking to set themselves apart from the pack after a step in the right direction in 2019.
Atlanta’s always known for producing top-notch prospects. Ozzie Albies, Ronald Acuna Jr., Freddie Freeman and Mike Soroka are all homegrown players. They should have plenty to offer for Betts.
The Dodgers could be another suitor. They’ve lost the World Series two years in a row. If they don’t win it this year, they might be inclined to make a splash.
I’d rather keep Betts away from the American League, but what about the Twins? They have a young core that has them in the postseason race this season. Betts is they type of player that can catapult them into the meat of the American League, where they’ll compete with the Astros and Yankees, for the long term.
The early indications say if Betts hits the free agent market, he’ll look for a contract similar to the $426 million deal Mike Trout signed this offseason. I don’t see the Red Sox going that far to keep him in Boston. So why not get something now while you still can?
Trading Betts doesn’t put the Red Sox in “rebuilding mode.” They’ll still have a nucleus of young, talented players leading the charge for the long haul. Xander Bogaerts is having a great season now that his future’s secure. Rafael Devers is hitting his way into MVP talks. Andrew Benintendi’s going to produce. Michael Chavis has shown promise. Chris Sale can’t possibly be this bad next year.
It’s tough to trade a player capable of posting MVP numbers every season. But the Red Sox have voids that need to be addressed before they can get back to where they were a season ago. If trading Betts will bring them there, I’m all for it.
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I’m glad NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has given Josh Gordon another chance to resume his career. It’ll be a great story and an inspiration to many if Gordon can find a way to make the most of his talents. Goodell’s rooting for him. The Patriots are rooting for him. I’m rooting for him.
That being said, let’s slow down on plugging Gordon into the Patriots’ offense and counting on him to boost a core of receivers that lacks depth.
He’s had chances before. He hasn’t been able to keep himself on the right track. So why should we count on him now? Has anything changed since he left the Patriots in December?
There’s no doubt the Patriots can use him. He played well in his short stint here last season and showed a sense of chemistry with Tom Brady. Those two worked well together and we all know Brady’s picky with his receivers. It’s the toughest position to play in New England. But I’m still not convinced that Gordon can give this team a full season without diverting back to what’s kept him off the field. He can only help if he stays on the field.
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Last week’s Ray Gallant Invitational Baseball Tournament was a nice way to close the summer youth sports season. The tournament board, led by president Sean O’Keefe, did an excellent job running a smooth operation. Salem has done an excellent job turning O’Grady Field into one of the best Little League venues on the North Shore.
And the baseball itself was terrific to watch. Peabody played great team baseball in wins over Salem and Marblehead before running into a Lynn team that wasn’t going to be denied. Lynn, on the other hand, was the story of the tournament. After a tough loss to Danvers in its opening game, Lynn found a way to come together. All it took was a win over Swampscott and the rest was history. The Lynners picked up confidence with every win and it was clear in the way they played. It’s no easy task winning five games in a row, yet Lynn managed to win five consecutive elimination games. That’s impressive. The players and coaches should be proud of themselves.
