It is possible, but if it meant retaining Bogaerts - who was clearly more willing to sign - was it as negative as it’s being portrayed? Once the Betts’ negotiations stopped, X was signed within days. Had Mookie signed, would they have been able to keep Bogaerts? He only had one season left at the time.
And if that is the case, which it appears to be, keeping Bogaerts was one helluva compensation prize for losing Betts. And one aspect of the failed Betts extension and trade I never hear mentioned.
Too many cite Verdugo as simply not enough compensation for Betts. All the pundits who gave Bloom a failed grade for that deal NEVER once mentioned that maybe the real compensation was Verdugo and Bogaerts.
And if it was, is that so bad? Betts vs Bogaerts plus Verdugo? (Obviously Bloom had nothing to do with Bogaerts, but DD did ensure the Sox at least had something.)