A bit of a sweeping generalization. Adults can get attached to players too. We have adults here who are still pissed about Betts, and are probably going to be much more pissed soon.
But then you say you wouldn't want Mookie's contract, he didn't want to be here, and he wasn't that good last year. Sometimes you sound like you're on both sides of the argument.
If we really sucked last year maybe they would have signed some expensive free agents that didn't work out.
You can come up with all kinds of alternate realities.
Turner was under team control for 1.3 seasons and 2 postseasons when the Dodgers got him. 2022 was his final arb year.
Betts was only under team control for 1 season and 1 postseason.
The only reason I can see for not making Houck closer is the future-oriented part. They probably have a certain number of innings they want him to pitch this year, and if they make him closer he won't reach that number.
"Market value" is a nebulous concept with star baseball players, because you may end up in a bidding war with crazy people, the kind who will guarantee Corey Seager $325 mill...