Red Sox: Dave Roberts finds perfect way to describe Mookie Betts trade
By Sean Penney
Dave Roberts comments on the Mookie Betts trade with the Red Sox.
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts perfectly summed up the trade that brought Mookie Betts over from the Boston Red Sox. It was a steal.
Roberts addressed the media about last winter’s blockbuster trade on Monday, according to Dodgers Nation.
"“We got a steal,” said Roberts. “I’m just so grateful that the deal was done because it’s not just going to help us this year…it’s going to impact players not even drafted by the Dodgers yet.”"
It’s unclear if the term Roberts used to describe the trade was a clever wink to his own history with the Red Sox organization. The former outfielder will forever be an icon in Boston for the infamous stolen base in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS that sparked an epic comeback against the New York Yankees.
The Dodgers must feel as though they pulled off a heist considering the impact that Betts has had during his first season in Los Angeles. He should be in the conversation for the NL MVP award after hitting .292 with a .927 OPS, 16 home runs and 10 stolen bases in 55 games this year.
Betts has continued his success in the playoffs, shattering the narrative that he can’t get it done in October. Betts is hitting .284/.372/.433 with seven doubles and a home run in 17 games this postseason. He’s also filling highlight reels with his amazing defensive abilities, including multiple home run-robbing grabs.
With Betts leading the way at the top of the lineup, the Dodgers are on the verge of being crowned World Series champions after taking a 3-2 lead over the Tampa Bay Rays. No matter what happens next, the trade to acquire Betts will have been worthwhile if it helps deliver the Dodgers their first title in over three decades.
While the Dodgers can gloat about the trade being a steal, the Red Sox front office isn’t going to admit to being robbed. It’s not as if anyone in Boston is shocked by how well Betts is doing. The trade had nothing to do with how Betts would preform in 2020.
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The concern was with how he might decline a decade from now, if not earlier, which made the Red Sox hesitant to shell out the massive contract extension that Betts demanded. Most teams don’t have nearly $400 million to spend on one player so it’s justifiable that Boston balked at the asking price. Keep in mind, Boston did offer Betts an extension with essentially the same average annual value that he ended up getting. It was the length of the deal that stalled negotiations.
Los Angeles was willing to pay, although it took a global pandemic that threatens to cripple the free-agent landscape to convince Betts that he won’t find a more lucrative offer by waiting. Boston obviously couldn’t have predicted that factor when they were trying to lock up their superstar to an extension.
The Red Sox feared losing Betts for nothing if they held on to him and they appear to be satisfied with the packaged they received in return. Alex Verdugo had a great first year in Boston and Jeter Downs is the top prospect in their farm system. Connor Wong provides some depth at a thin catcher position.
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That would have been a steep price for the Dodgers if it were only for one year of Betts. The comfort of knowing that they have one of the best players in baseball locked up for the remainder of his career now makes it feel like a steal.