Mookie Betts and David Price have been traded to Dodgers

[Kimmi]

I think the fact that the Dodgers have come so close , but have failed to win a championship in recent years makes them a little more hungry and aggressive in spending than they otherwise might be . No doubt Mookie increases their chances .

 

The Dodgers are at the point where they're ready to go all in. They want that championship.

 

If the Sox don't win it all, I wouldn't mind seeing the Dodgers win it.

 

Edit: Of course we'll never hear the end of the "we never should have traded Mookie!" rants. LOL

[Kimmi]

I have no idea how this deal is loaded but on average it is $30.4 mil per year. That will see the Dodgers paying big bucks for a great player now, but will he continue to be 5 years from now, 8 years from now? The risk is extremely high for the Dodgers and I am glad that the Sox did not make a similar offer, which would have hamstrung our organization going forward.As I remember, we did offer $30 mil for 10 years, which I thought was too rich given the Red Sox existing salary structure. That is not to denigrate Mookie who is a legitimate star player now. Mookie is a smallish guy whose game relies on his speed and physical health. Injuries and father time will cause his skills to deteriorate. It's just a matter of time. I'll give Bloom the benefit of the doubt, but I expect him to build a solid team that can compete year in and year out. It probably will take a few years, based on the need to recover from Dombrowski's moves

 

Once again, very solid post Oldtimer. You and I are on the same page when it comes to those long term contracts.

 

One of the Sox tweeters tweeted that the Sox offer of $310 million was made 2018, and the latest offer might have even been larger than that. I'm reading a lot about how the Sox blew this and how they disrespected Mookie by not offering enough to lock him up. I completely disagree with that sentiment. The Sox' offer was much more than respectable. Personally, I'm glad Mookie did not accept it, and that sentiment has nothing to do with Mookie as a player or as a person.

[Kimmi]

I appreciate all your comments. But as far as hamstringing the organization, I hope most people are referring to the luxury tax and reset rules, and not actual salaries. The Red Sox have always been able to splurge and afford what they thought were great players. They paid 30 mil per to Sale with a bad elbow, 30 mil to Price with a bad attitude, and offered 30 mil to Betts about to enter his prime. I certainly hope Bloom can rebuild a good team, but I also trust Boston will still try to lock up star players and fan favorites as part of the process.

 

I can't identify with musical chairs; I can't even dance.

 

Of course the Sox can afford it. That doesn't mean they should do it. The biggest thing with Mookie's contract is the number of years. Absolutely absurd.

 

I read that a $300 million contract to Mookie would actually cost the Sox $500 million when the luxury tax penalty is factor in.

[Kimmi]

I've been in the basement with Joe, no actually in my garage staining some outdoor wooden furniture we just bought for much of the afternoon.

 

I missed the news of the signing, until now.

 

WOW!

 

I'm glad he's in the NL, but I sure wish he played his prime in Boston.

 

Dang Moon. You need to get a grip. LOL

[Kimmi]

Very happy we aren't the ones that offered that contract.

 

I don't believe he will age well, and I don't believe he ever wanted to sign a long term contract with the Sox unless it was for something utterly absurd. His comments yesterday of "This is the only place I would have signed this long" (paraphrasing) might be paying lip-service to the Dodgers fans, but it backs up a suspicion I have had for a long time he didn't want to stay with the Sox long term.

 

Mookie has always been about the money. He'll have the Dodger fans bevelling it's all about them in no time.

 

Good luck to him. He was gonna get paid somewhere, I'm just glad it wasn't here.

 

Hitch!

 

Good post. It did sound like if the Sox offered him the same contract, he would not have accepted. He also said that he was not concerned about this offseason's potentially depressed market at all, which I'm not buying.

 

I am still in shock that the Dodgers would offer that during these uncertain economic times.

[Kimmi]

Xander Bogaerts, I love you.

 

That is all.

[OH FOY]

Does he get his Full Salary for 60 Games? Betts?

[jad]

Just a note to fans who feel aggrieved and victimized by the dastardly actions of MB: the two claims "Mookie is all about the money" and "He never would have signed in Boston for that amount" are contradictory.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Of course the Sox can afford it. That doesn't mean they should do it. The biggest thing with Mookie's contract is the number of years. Absolutely absurd.

 

I read that a $300 million contract to Mookie would actually cost the Sox $500 million when the luxury tax penalty is factor in.

 

Nowadays, "always about the money" really equates to "actually, about the years". Star players in their primes want security, and who could blame them? So if the Sox want to stay competitive by paying their best player or signing the best free agent, they'll have to commit big bucks for a decade. Otherwise, be prepared for more goodbyes to guys like Devers, and to see pinstripes and Dodger blue on all future Lindors and Sotos.

 

My worry is the past repeating itself, and instead of locking up true stars -- or waiting patiently for the right guy to become available, like NY and LA just did -- Boston will throw gauze all over gushers, and blow money on shorter term Pandas and Hanleys...

[Nick]

Xander Bogaerts, I love you.

 

That is all.

 

Yep....and in a short series, you want to throw out as many professional hitters as you can in the lineup...even your super stars a la Betts can go on a 7 game slump...you're good hitter over a 162 game season...not necessarily during World Series.

[Kimmi]

Nowadays, "always about the money" really equates to "actually, about the years". Star players in their primes want security, and who could blame them? So if the Sox want to stay competitive by paying their best player or signing the best free agent, they'll have to commit big bucks for a decade. Otherwise, be prepared for more goodbyes to guys like Devers, and to see pinstripes and Dodger blue on all future Lindors and Sotos.

 

My worry is the past repeating itself, and instead of locking up true stars -- or waiting patiently for the right guy to become available, like NY and LA just did -- Boston will throw gauze all over gushers, and blow money on shorter term Pandas and Hanleys...

 

Do you think Chris Sale felt like he had security when he signed his extension with the White Sox? Do you think Xander feels like he has security after signing his extension?

 

Mookie already had financial security before the deal with the Dodgers. It's not about security. It's about ego. The Sox are willing to lock up their stars, but it takes two to tango. Mookie was not willing to dance.

 

I will take a shorter term deal with a higher AAV for 2nd tier type players all day long over a monster contract for a mega star. Again, that's based on the premise that it all starts with a strong farm.

[Kimmi]

Yep....and in a short series, you want to throw out as many professional hitters as you can in the lineup...even your super stars a la Betts can go on a 7 game slump...you're good hitter over a 162 game season...not necessarily during World Series.

 

I feel good about our line up. Really good actually, even without Mookie.

 

Hopefully our pitching will pleasantly surprise us.

[Thunder]

Xander Bogaerts, I love you.

 

That is all.

 

Why what did he do?

[Kimmi]

Why what did he do?

 

He signed an extension with the Sox before free agency and was not all about getting the most money that he possibly could.

[Bellhorn04]

Does he get his Full Salary for 60 Games? Betts?

 

All salaries are pro-rated at 60/162, I believe.

[oldtimer]

All salaries are pro-rated at 60/162, I believe.

 

Betts will get about $10 mil. Most people would think themselves wildly rich with that kind of income.

[Bellhorn04]

For those who are into details, Betts's contract includes:

 

65 million signing bonus

115 million deferred money

No opt-out clause

No no-trade clause

[Bellhorn04]

Once again, very solid post Oldtimer. You and I are on the same page when it comes to those long term contracts.

 

One of the Sox tweeters tweeted that the Sox offer of $310 million was made 2018, and the latest offer might have even been larger than that. I'm reading a lot about how the Sox blew this and how they disrespected Mookie by not offering enough to lock him up. I completely disagree with that sentiment. The Sox' offer was much more than respectable. Personally, I'm glad Mookie did not accept it, and that sentiment has nothing to do with Mookie as a player or as a person.

 

The only question, and one we'll never know the answer to, is if the Sox could have signed him with an offer like the Dodgers gave him.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Betts will get about $10 mil. Most people would think themselves wildly rich with that kind of income.

 

Especially most young guys. They should offer $10M for 10 years to each of Duran, Dalbec, Downs and Arauz today. That kinda money at their age is what they've always dreamed of. Lock them up, there's your foundation for the next decade. Then invest the rest of the Betts' savings on about a hundred young arms (but not proven MLB starters, because any of them will want at least $20M per year... as if that's the going rate).

[mvp 78]

I never felt it was always about the money. He wound up signing with LA for the same AAV that the Sox offered.

 

I always felt it was about getting out of Boston. He never ordered his agents to make a deal to stay, like Bogaerts.

 

Mookie is now the hot ex-girlfriend... fun while it lasted, but there was always the sense he knew he could do better.

 

It was about the money. There are 2 extra guaranteed years.

[mvp 78]

The Dodgers are at the point where they're ready to go all in. They want that championship.

 

If the Sox don't win it all, I wouldn't mind seeing the Dodgers win it.

 

Edit: Of course we'll never hear the end of the "we never should have traded Mookie!" rants. LOL

 

When I lived in LA, I followed the Dodgers because I got to hear Vin Scully on the radio. I still have a lot of friends out there, so I wouldn't be upset if they won as long as it's not at the expense of our hometown team.

[mvp 78]

Nowadays, "always about the money" really equates to "actually, about the years". Star players in their primes want security, and who could blame them? So if the Sox want to stay competitive by paying their best player or signing the best free agent, they'll have to commit big bucks for a decade. Otherwise, be prepared for more goodbyes to guys like Devers, and to see pinstripes and Dodger blue on all future Lindors and Sotos.

 

My worry is the past repeating itself, and instead of locking up true stars -- or waiting patiently for the right guy to become available, like NY and LA just did -- Boston will throw gauze all over gushers, and blow money on shorter term Pandas and Hanleys...

 

Yup, which is part of the reason JD is not opting out.

[mvp 78]

Especially most young guys. They should offer $10M for 10 years to each of Duran, Dalbec, Downs and Arauz today. That kinda money at their age is what they've always dreamed of. Lock them up, there's your foundation for the next decade. Then invest the rest of the Betts' savings on about a hundred young arms (but not proven MLB starters, because any of them will want at least $20M per year... as if that's the going rate).

 

No.

[Bellhorn04]

Anyone think it was kind of wimpy for Price to opt out of this season?

[illinoisredsox]

Anyone think it was kind of wimpy for Price to opt out of this season?

 

Who?

[Donnie Sadler was short]

I did the math, so I'm not as depressed: 13 for $380 reportedly includes this year ($20M), so if it's really an extension of 12 for $360, then that's at the same $30M annual rate the Sox offered (10 for $300). This would at least confirm what I suspected, and justify trading him; Mookie didn't want to stay in Boston.

 

This...

[Donnie Sadler was short]

I appreciate all your comments. But as far as hamstringing the organization, I hope most people are referring to the luxury tax and reset rules, and not actual salaries. The Red Sox have always been able to splurge and afford what they thought were great players. They paid 30 mil per to Sale with a bad elbow, 30 mil to Price with a bad attitude, and offered 30 mil to Betts about to enter his prime. I certainly hope Bloom can rebuild a good team, but I also trust Boston will still try to lock up star players and fan favorites as part of the process.

 

I can't identify with musical chairs; I can't even dance.

 

Perhaps they learned from the 2 cases (plus Evoldi, Crawford)) that you mentioned

[Donnie Sadler was short]

Anyone think it was kind of wimpy for Price to opt out of this season?

 

Maybe..maybe not...but more like Im not surprised. Hey, it was within his rights I guess.

[bkzwhitestrican]

Anyone think it was kind of wimpy for Price to opt out of this season?

 

Yes. But ultimately he's doing it out of safety for his own family, so I can understand.

[mvp 78]

Anyone think it was kind of wimpy for Price to opt out of this season?

 

No.