A Realistic View of 2024: Part II

[Bellhorn04]

No one seems to doubt the $200mill offer. The $300mill offer seems to be in question...

 

Betts fully acknowledged the first and denied the second.

[notin]

Betts fully acknowledged the first and denied the second.

 

Others have reported the second. None of them have any real reason to lie about it. Reportedly Betts was asking for $400mill at one point; rejecting $300mill seems like a no-brainer if you set your value that high....

[Bellhorn04]

Also known as keeping an open mind.

 

Bloom seems like an odd choice, since it seemed like it was over before he got into the picture since Bloom was brought in to get the Sox under the cap. If the Sox wanted to spend, they could have just kept Dombrowski...

 

But when you look at how late in the day they traded Betts, it makes some sense that there were final talks with him. If it had been a no-doubt move why didn't the process of trading him start a lot sooner?

[notin]

But when you look at how late in the day they traded Betts, it makes some sense that there were final talks with him. If it had been a no-doubt move why didn't the process of trading him start a lot sooner?

 

Reportedly DD was shopping him at the 2019 trade deadline.

 

After that, there was a bit of turmoil in the Sox FO, with DD being ushered out and Bloom coming in. Not surprised it took as long as it did...

[Bellhorn04]

Others have reported the second. None of them have any real reason to lie about it. Reportedly Betts was asking for $400mill at one point; rejecting $300mill seems like a no-brainer if you set your value that high....

 

Lou Merloni is the guy who reported it, I believe. Betts said it was ******** and it's been crickets since.

[notin]

Betts fully acknowledged the first and denied the second.

 

Also worth pointing out at one point, Betts said he did not regret turning down the $300mill from the Sox. Seems an odd comment to make if no offer was made...

 

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mookie-betts-says-he-doesnt-regret-turning-down-300-million-offer-from-red-sox/

[Bellhorn04]

Reportedly DD was shopping him at the 2019 trade deadline.

 

After that, there was a bit of turmoil in the Sox FO, with DD being ushered out and Bloom coming in. Not surprised it took as long as it did...

 

Bloom was hired October 25/19. Betts wasn't traded until Feb/20. Seems like a considerable stretch of time to me.

[notin]

Lou Merloni is the guy who reported it, I believe. Betts said it was ******** and it's been crickets since.

 

Mike Axisa (formerly of fangraphs and MLBTR) reported on Betts' turning it down for CBS Sports. His quote from Betts on the subject:

 

"I don't regret turning down that," Betts said. "Once I make a decision, I make a decision. I'm not going back and questioning myself. I don't worry about that. The market will be what the market is. We'll just cross that bridge when we get there. But for right now, it's just the safety and health that I'm worried about."

[notin]

Bloom was hired October 25/19. Betts wasn't traded until Feb/20. Seems like a considerable stretch of time to me.

 

Exactly what advantage do they get trading Betts in November of 2019 over February of 2020? Those extra 3 months of control are meaningless given the lack of games...

[Bellhorn04]

Also worth pointing out at one point, Betts said he did not regret turning down the $300mill from the Sox. Seems an odd comment to make if no offer was made...

 

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mookie-betts-says-he-doesnt-regret-turning-down-300-million-offer-from-red-sox/

 

I've read that. What's weird is there's no direct statement by Betts of how much he turned down. Where's the rest of the conversation?

 

The reporting of the whole thing has sucked from the beginning.

[Bellhorn04]

Exactly what advantage do they get trading Betts in November of 2019 over February of 2020? Those extra 3 months of control are meaningless given the lack of games...

 

Sometimes you really go out of your way to miss the point.

[Old Red]

Exactly what advantage do they get trading Betts in November of 2019 over February of 2020? Those extra 3 months of control are meaningless given the lack of games...

 

Bloom was obviously looking for that 3rd option in the fork in the road during those 3 months.🤭🙈

[Old Red]

Sometimes you really go out of your way to miss the point.

 

That’s NNN for you.

[notin]

I've read that. What's weird is there's no direct statement by Betts of how much he turned down. Where's the rest of the conversation?

 

The reporting of the whole thing has sucked from the beginning.

 

There were multiple reports Betts was seeking $400mill, with some going as high as $420mill. Even if that is just a negotiation ploy, it makes a ton of sense to turn down $300mill. What appears to have happened there was Dombrowski either was not allowed to spend more, or he simply used his Plan B, which was to sign Bogaerts and Sale.

 

Fans like to believe the greedy owners are always at fault, but the players are greedy as well. MLB is a $10mill business that a couple thousand people cannot agree on how to divide up amongst themselves without quarreling and threatening to quit every few years. They're all greedy, including the star players...

[notin]

Sometimes you really go out of your way to miss the point.

 

What was your point? That Betts could have been dealt earlier in a 3 month window if they knew he was gone?

 

Maybe they were talking to teams, but no one was gong to deal until after his final salary was agreed upon (at $25mill). And at that point, interest was fairly minimal, with only 2 teams making reported offers. I would imagine Bloom was doing what any CBO would have done - calling 27 other teams...

[Bellhorn04]

Maybe Betts was lying in his press conference. But nobody seemed to make the slightest effort to follow up. Just seems weird. This was the biggest loss of talent by the Red Sox since Ruth.

[Old Red]

Maybe Betts was lying in his press conference. But nobody seemed to make the slightest effort to follow up. Just seems weird. This was the biggest loss of talent by the Red Sox since Ruth.

 

It was weird that one of the eager beavers reporters didn’t do more digging. That doesn’t sound like them at all.

[notin]

Maybe Betts was lying in his press conference. But nobody seemed to make the slightest effort to follow up. Just seems weird. This was the biggest loss of talent by the Red Sox since Ruth.

 

It was the worst move. We agree.

 

But I just don't take Betts' word for everything, mostly because I am sick of players saying "I only wanted to play for Team X, and all they had to do was meet my exorbitant asking price." To me, that's not how only wanting one thing works. Just be honest. I'd like to hear a player say "I wanted as much money as possible, because this is my job and, like most people, I work for money. I don't get paid in RBIs."

 

So far, the only player I have ever heard come close was Torii Hunter, who signed a 5 year $90mill deal with the Angels and said "My grandma said I'd be stupid to turn down that much money."

[notin]

It was weird that one of the eager beavers reporters didn’t do more digging. That doesn’t sound like them at all.

 

Maybe they did but there was nothing to report? Because you are right in that it doesn't sound like them at all...

[Old Red]

what was your point? That betts could have been dealt earlier in a 3 month window if they knew he was gone?

 

Maybe they were talking to teams, but no one was gong to deal until after his final salary was agreed upon (at $25mill). And at that point, interest was fairly minimal, with only 2 teams making reported offers. I would imagine bloom was doing what any cbo would have done - calling 27 other teams...

$27m

[Bellhorn04]

It was the worst move. We agree.

 

But I just don't take Betts' word for everything, mostly because I am sick of players saying "I only wanted to play for Team X, and all they had to do was meet my exorbitant asking price." To me, that's not how only wanting one thing works. Just be honest. I'd like to hear a player say "I wanted as much money as possible, because this is my job and, like most people, I work for money. I don't get paid in RBIs."

 

I think Betts did as much as say it was all about the money. He admitted to turning down $200 million, after all.

[Old Red]

It was the worst move. We agree.

 

But I just don't take Betts' word for everything, mostly because I am sick of players saying "I only wanted to play for Team X, and all they had to do was meet my exorbitant asking price." To me, that's not how only wanting one thing works. Just be honest. I'd like to hear a player say "I wanted as much money as possible, because this is my job and, like most people, I work for money. I don't get paid in RBIs."

 

So far, the only player I have ever heard come close was Torii Hunter, who signed a 5 year $90mill deal with the Angels and said "My grandma said I'd be stupid to turn down that much money."

 

I blame BOTH sides.

[mvp 78]

I'd like to see the quote on what he actually said. He did talk about the 8 year/$200 million offer that he turned down, saying he came very close to signing it, and that it was his mother who told him to stay clear-headed and not over-react to what a big chunk of money it was and all that.

 

His mom took some grief on here for that, but she's a smart lady.

[mvp 78]

Sometimes you really go out of your way to miss the point.

 

He goes out of his way to miss the point?!?!?

[Bellhorn04]

Any way you look at it, the Red Sox ended up paying Devers 30 mill a year long term instead of Betts. And as much as I like Devers, he's half as good as Betts, if that.

[moonslav59]

What was your point? That Betts could have been dealt earlier in a 3 month window if they knew he was gone?

 

Maybe they were talking to teams, but no one was gong to deal until after his final salary was agreed upon (at $25mill). And at that point, interest was fairly minimal, with only 2 teams making reported offers. I would imagine Bloom was doing what any CBO would have done - calling 27 other teams...

 

It was reported that DD was looking to trade him in July of 2019, but the Sox started playing better, so they decided not to "sell."

 

Had they lost that 8 game streak in the middle of July instead of right at the end and into AUG, he might have been traded by DD. Who knows what the return would have been. I never heard even any rumors of the return.

[Old Red]

Any way you look at it, the Red Sox ended up paying Devers 30 mill a year long term instead of Betts. And as much as I like Devers, he's half as good as Betts, if that.

 

But I believe that’s because Raffy was in the right place at the right time, and was the last man standing.

[moonslav59]

Any way you look at it, the Red Sox ended up paying Devers 30 mill a year long term instead of Betts. And as much as I like Devers, he's half as good as Betts, if that.

 

This is true, but the 3 year gap is significant, in terms of the budget and roster at each time.

 

The Betts era had several players making $17+M or $20+M. Fan expectations were different, too.

[mvp 78]

I've read that. What's weird is there's no direct statement by Betts of how much he turned down. Where's the rest of the conversation?

 

The reporting of the whole thing has sucked from the beginning.

 

Clear as mud.

[mvp 78]

That’s NNN for you.

 

The Nakey News Network?