That theory just didn't make sense to me. It suggests that they weren't giving Mookie any thought at all when they did them. And then went "Oh, whoops"?
I don't think any fans, outside of maybe a miniscule %, root against the team while they're playing.
Taking consolation from the future benefits of a bad record, that's a different story.
We would have needed to pay some other starting pitchers, though.
It's my belief Mookie's situation superceded all those things.
I think they gave up on trying to keep him. And that may have been before the deals with Sale and Eovaldi.
Sure he did. But I don't think the 3 contracts you mentioned are the reason we didn't keep Mookie.
The contracts of Price and Eovaldi would have been off the books after 2022. Mookie's new deal doesn't start until 2021.
It would be unbelievably short-sighted for a franchise with the Red Sox's money to have those two deals affect keeping Mookie.
I have to say I understand the rationale behind not basing the draft order solely on this abbreviated and weird season.
We should probably just be thankful it counts for the tax reset.