In the Off Season - Should we consider Trading Mookie Betts?

[StephenCurry30]

I know no one wants to mention this or think about it, but lets discuss this. If he isn't willing to re-sign, and I'm having my doubts, we almost have to trade him, right? Sale and Xander signed extensions, we have numerous other players locked up long term. I think Sox should offer Mookie a contract similar to Trout, if he says no, trade him for best available package. What do you guys think?

[mvp 78]

Nope.

[Jasonbay44]

I mentioned re-signing Mookie in the other thread. As for trading him? Absolutely not. He is a generational talent. Everything that can possible be done to make him re-sign should be done. Guys like Mookie don't come around often and what he's accomplished as only a 26 year old is nearly unheard of.

[BillyWilliams]

I mentioned re-signing Mookie in the other thread. As for trading him? Absolutely not. He is a generational talent. Everything that can possible be done to make him re-sign should be done. Guys like Mookie don't come around often and what he's accomplished as only a 26 year old is nearly unheard of.

 

Not to be a jerk, but exactly what has he accomplished that is nearly unheard of?

[notin]

I mentioned re-signing Mookie in the other thread. As for trading him? Absolutely not. He is a generational talent. Everything that can possible be done to make him re-sign should be done. Guys like Mookie don't come around often and what he's accomplished as only a 26 year old is nearly unheard of.

 

 

Let’s get hypothetical.

 

Say the Sox are 10 (or more) games out on July 31 and this season looks lost. Maybe injuries have piled up.

 

Betts has resisted all attempts to sign an extension and is looking for Trout money (although Arenado money might be more realistic). With 1 and a half seasons left, his value is never going to be higher.

 

What if the Dodgers offer a package built around Alex Verdugo and Julio Urias, with others? Still pass? What if Corey Seager (whom they went to a World Series without last year) was one of those others? Still no?

 

(Again, hypothetical. Not expecting these exact returns.)

[Thunder]

If we trade Mookie, I will cease being a Sox fan

[notin]

Not to be a jerk, but exactly what has he accomplished that is nearly unheard of?

 

 

Tend to agree.

 

It’s hard to label Betts as a once-in-a-lifetime layer when he’s a contemporary of Mike Trout and the younger fast tracked Ronald Acuna and Juan Soto, both of whom might be inspiring the phrase “Mookie who?” by the time they turn 26...

[Slasher9]

Let’s get hypothetical.

 

Say the Sox are 10 (or more) games out on July 31 and this season looks lost. Maybe injuries have piled up.

 

Betts has resisted all attempts to sign an extension and is looking for Trout money (although Arenado money might be more realistic). With 1 and a half seasons left, his value is never going to be higher.

 

What if the Dodgers offer a package built around Alex Verdugo and Julio Urias, with others? Still pass? What if Corey Seager (whom they went to a World Series without last year) was one of those others? Still no?

 

(Again, hypothetical. Not expecting these exact returns.)

 

i dont know if i would do it this trade deadline... but next year? definitely.

then we can just sign him at the end of that season and get him back (if we want).

[Bellhorn04]

No. Nay. Negatory.

[Dojji]

Not to be a jerk, but exactly what has he accomplished that is nearly unheard of?

 

There are exactly 2 30-30 players in Red Sox history. That's a lot of history. And not a lot of 30-30 players.

[TylerD]

I hope we re-sign him. He's simply too good of a player and well rounded player to see him play elsewhere. Depending on what the contract looks like I guess, but I want to see him as a high priority to sign again. Players like Mookie are a once in a life time. He is fun as hell to watch.

[notin]

i dont know if i would do it this trade deadline... but next year? definitely.

then we can just sign him at the end of that season and get him back (if we want).

 

But he won’t command the same return one year later. He’d still get a good package, but not a monster one...

[notin]

There are exactly 2 30-30 players in Red Sox history. That's a lot of history. And not a lot of 30-30 players.

 

 

Yeah but is he considered a “generational talent” because he accomplished something Ian Kinsler has done twice?

 

30-30 is tremendous, but he had fewer home runs and stolen bases than Jose Ramirez last year...

[redsoxrules]

There are exactly 2 30-30 players in Red Sox history. That's a lot of history. And not a lot of 30-30 players.

 

It's still not something that's unheard of.

Jacoby was the other one, how did that career ended up?

 

Mookie Betts is definitely better that Ellsbury but I would like to see how he does this year and next year before they throw 300Mil at the guy.

 

He's no Mike Trout yet.

And Harper got overpaid so I wouldn't use that as a measure.

[moonslav59]

There are exactly 2 30-30 players in Red Sox history. That's a lot of history. And not a lot of 30-30 players.

 

We did have Tommy Harper, who accomplished the feat with the Brewers before coming to Boston.

[Slasher9]

But he won’t command the same return one year later. He’d still get a good package, but not a monster one...

 

i agree with you that he wont get the same return. i just dont think FO will do it this season due to PR backlash from fans.

[Bellhorn04]

Yeah but is he considered a “generational talent” because he accomplished something Ian Kinsler has done twice?

 

30-30 is tremendous, but he had fewer home runs and stolen bases than Jose Ramirez last year...

 

His 2018 WAR of 10.9 is tied for 21st on the list of single season WAR with Ted Williams's 1946 season. That was the highest ever registered by Williams.

 

Any analysis of Betts should start with WAR.

[Slasher9]

 

Any analysis of Betts should start with WAR.

 

*getting popcorn ready

[notin]

We did have Tommy Harper, who accomplished the feat with the Brewers before coming to Boston.

 

The Sox have had several players who accomplished the feat with other teams. Harper, Kinsler, Canseco, Hanley Ramirez, Grady Sizemore, Brandon Phillips, Ellis Burks and Jeff Bagwell...

[Jasonbay44]

You guys are right. There are plenty of people who by age 26 have multiple top 2 MVP finishes, including winning one, have gone 30/30, won a battling title, numerous silver sluggers and is arguably the best fielder in all of baseball.

 

He has the 8th best WAR in MLB history though his first 5 seasons behind only Trout, Pujols, Boggs, Jackie Robinson, Barry Bonds, Eddie Matthews, and Willie Mays. Decent company I guess.

 

Not sure if you guys are just taking him for granted because we watch him every day, and maybe “generational” was wrong word. But he’s off to one of best starts for a career in MLB HISTORY...

[Bellhorn04]

He has the 8th best WAR in MLB history though his first 5 seasons behind only Trout, Pujols, Boggs, Jackie Robinson, Barry Bonds, Eddie Matthews, and Willie Mays. Decent company I guess.

 

That's what I'm talkin' about!

[BillyWilliams]

There are exactly 2 30-30 players in Red Sox history. That's a lot of history. And not a lot of 30-30 players.

 

40 players have reached the 30-30 club and 13 have done it more than once.

 

While certainly not an every day occurence I'm not sure it qualifies as "nearly unheard of".

[fxkatt]

The bottom line is this: What's he asking for? And what will his on the field numbers be when indeed he does ask. And will those numbers rise or fall in the years of the contract? Once we know the first two, and can guess at the third question, then we can each state our personal opinion.

 

I almost think I would hate to give up his defense more than I would his offense.

[notin]

i agree with you that he wont get the same return. i just dont think FO will do it this season due to PR backlash from fans.

 

 

Oh definitely.

 

I doubt any team has ever traded a 26yo superstar and not faced backlash, regardless of what they got back.

 

In fact, I’m trying to think of a single instance of trading a young superstar and the return was even worth it ...

[dgalehouse]

Mookie Betts is a franchise player . A future Hall of Famer . Do not trade him . Repeat , do not trade him . Keeping Chris Sale and letting Betts go , would be a colossal blunder . P.S. Nothing against Sale .

[notin]

Mookie Betts is a franchise player . A future Hall of Famer . Do not trade him . Repeat , do not trade him . Keeping Chris Sale and letting Betts go , would be a colossal blunder . P.S. Nothing against Sale .

 

 

I think we all hope they do, Dombrowski included.

 

But I do think this argument needed a Devil’s Advocate....

[notin]

The bottom line is this: What's he asking for? And what will his on the field numbers be when indeed he does ask. And will those numbers rise or fall in the years of the contract? Once we know the first two, and can guess at the third question, then we can each state our personal opinion.

 

I almost think I would hate to give up his defense more than I would his offense.

 

 

No real numbers have been made public, but I imagine if he stays even close to last year’s pace, he’ll ask closer to Trout than Harper.

 

I do think not being 26 when his time comes might be a big factor, but he still gets somewhere between Arenado and Machado for cash and years...

[vegasbob]

When I think of the hitter I'd like to see at bat in a game on the line situation, it's JDM, not Mookie. In the OF, there's little question who can play the best. I'd want 3 players for Mookie . 2 MLB'er's about 24 years old, and a AAA prospect ready to play next year. An OF'er and 2 pitchers.

[Thunder]

Figured this might turn up eventually...

 

[Jasonbay44]

When I think of the hitter I'd like to see at bat in a game on the line situation, it's JDM, not Mookie. In the OF, there's little question who can play the best. I'd want 3 players for Mookie . 2 MLB'er's about 24 years old, and a AAA prospect ready to play next year. An OF'er and 2 pitchers.

Not many teams have that to give up, and the ones that do, would likely just wait till Mookie hit free agency if they seriously wanted him, considering whoever trades for him, would need to re-sign him.