Advance ticket sales must be in the toilet. They were languishing before the trade, but they have probably dried up since the announcement.
The really messed up thing from a fan relation standpoint is that they raised ticket prices for a year that they have decided they will not try to compete. The Left Hand doesn’t know what the Right Hand is doing in the organization right now. They are usually much better at season ticket holder relations.
Just my opinion, but I thought the thread about the deal hitting a snag was a good idea. I think it is a separate topic. But what the hell. It doesn’t matter.
Anyway, it would be funny if the trade fell apart like the ARod deal did before 2004 and the Red Sox again go onto a Word Championship.
The Twins should know more about the guy than the Red Sox. If the Twins think he is a reliever, I am skeptical of the Red Sox reported interest in him as a starter.
Benintendi is the better fielder and much better base runner. Confortois a much better power hitter. Also, it was only in the second half of last year that he was fully recovered from his shoulder surgery.
If the problem is with Verdugo, it could probably be fixed by offloading more money for Price.
If the problem with Graterol, the Twins would have to replace him with another prospect.
If the problem is with Price, the deal could fall apart.
By Verdugo's age, Betts had 2 All Star seasons under his belt and a second place finish to Trout in an MVP vote. He also had 54 HRs. Verdugo is no Betts, not even close.
Sale wasn't a salary dump. ARod (2003) forced the issue with the Rangers. Seaver (1977) was 32 years old. The situation was more complicated than a salary dump. He had a year and a half left on his Mets contract and it was the Mets. Ruth (1920). You have to go back 10, 20 and 40 years to find examples that aren't really comparable to this Betts situation and the Mets, Expos and Marlins are jokes. The Red Sox shouldn't be emulating them.
Montreal (1997) and the Marlins (2008) -- 2 of the best run organizations in history.
Sale wasn't a salary dump. He was quite a cost controlled asset (3 years @ $13 million/year) and he netted the top prospects from the Sox. That was a move to build not to control
costs.
I disagree that there were 2 trades. This was a package, but if you want to divide it up like that. Half-price Price for Graterol is a ripoff of the Red Sox.