5GoldGlovesOF,75

On guys like Soto and Acuna? Half a decade from now? Maybe you're right, because first they'd have to produce six seasons of 42 WAR like Mookie just did... which may be difficult, according to this list: Greatest Career WAR Ages 21-26 RF (min. 500 games): 1. Mookie Betts 42.0 2. Hank Aaron 37.4 3. Reggie Jackson 28.2 4. Bobby Bonds 26.0 Edit: that's Greatest ever -- so, describing Betts as a "generational talent" may be limited, since the baseball-ref range is 1871 to 2019

Moon, all your number breakdowns in values per age look reasonable today, but what some dissenters also need to realize is that four or five years from now, guys like Soto and Acuna may be signing their own longterm contracts for $40 or $50 mil per year. With market adjustments, Mookie's salary at say -- $35 mil at age 35 -- may only be the going rate for average 3.5 to 4 WAR position players.

I think Downs will be in Boston by mid-summer. They just gave him a locker between Moreland and JD in Fort Myers. Descriptions in scouting reports and his projections offensively and defensively remind me a little of Starlin Castro. Not Robbie Alomar, but a four-time All-Star and .280 bat wouldn't be so bad for one year of Mookie.

Unless the MLB commits Harry Caray and has another strike work stoppage, I would bet in the next decade the Red Sox will pay $35 million a year to some other player who's not as good as Mookie. I also guarantee that in another decade someone on some forum will post that "Nobody is worth half a billion dollars to play baseball" and then "Nobody is worth $600 million" then "$800 million" then "A billion!!!!" And that's because the market rates will keep rising. But I can't bet you $35 million, because I'm only a hundredaire, not a billionaire, like all the owners of all the MLB franchises who all could pay players like Betts... if they really wanted to...

I keep telling you guys: the Yankees are safe. Manfred and the MLB have worked hard emasculating Houston and Boston, clearing the path to a pinstriped postseason. Who's going to challenge New York? Minnesota? The Yankees look at the Twins like Jack Nicholson looked at the lawyers in A Few Good Men: "Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?" Maybe Manfred's prolonging the Red Sox report so he can interrogate the latest ex-Sox players (though standup guys like Betts and Price are probably persona non ratta). Imagine the mess if the Yankees got investigated? Not only would Cashman and Boone be suspects, but they'd also have to look at Girardi -- it was on his watch that Beltran, McCann, Chris Young and others that Logan Morrison knows about were involved. If Girardi is implicated, that also affects the Phillies' season... Nope, Manfred wants this to go away, especially before it burns down the Bronx. I'd even say most owners would agree, and maybe some would secretly admit that it's too important for the Yankees to win this year -- to help baseball "heal" and ultimately put more money in their own pockets.

I don't have stats in front of me, but I never saw a lefty pop one off the wall like Boggs with two strikes. I always thought it intentional and he looked like he could do it whenever he wanted to. Boggs wasn't a punch hitter, but a precision line-drive hitter by design who could've hit with more loft (like they said he did in BP), but chose 50 more hits per year than 20 more HRs. I'll bet he had more doubles per year than Vaughn, though.

Verdugo was the best possible acquisition that Bloom could've gotten for one year of Betts: a promising player whose best-case may even out-double Betts once he learns how to hit the Monster (when Mookie no longer has the wall as a target)... I just hope the media gives him a fair shot at thriving here, because no one can truly replace Betts. Verdugo's best approach should just be to hustle -- after every fly ball, gapper or base-hit, and especially to first on every grounder, pop-up or longball...

I have no proof of this, but I'm of the opinion that moving Price was a mandate, and not just because he had the worst contract on the club. The Red Sox are an image-conscious franchise in an entertainment business, and Price's personality was bad for business. If I'm running a company that was ready to make changes, he'd be the first one to go... especially since his athletic contributions were so tenuous going forward. Remember, Boston even tolerated Bill Lee as long as he was still good (in their eyes).

It wasn't the only reason they traded Mookie, but it was the only way they could get rid of Price. Otherwise, they would've packaged anyone else with Price -- JD, JBJ, Chavis/Dalbec, etc. -- and kept their best player. Instead, the had to give up their best player so someone would take Price off our hands. Sure, Bloom did the best he could getting prospects (instead of a draft pick next winter), but by all accounts the return was worse because Price was included. The better question is, does anyone really believe our new Chief Baseball Officer when he just said the luxury tax wasn't much of a factor in making this trade?

Price will always be linked with Betts in Red Sox lore as the bad contract that caused them to lose a Hall of Famer. In 20 years or so, when Mookie gets inducted into Cooperstown wearing an LA or Atlanta cap on his plaque, Boston fans will rue this trade even more. By then, most won't even care any more about Price's one great week in October 2018 -- not after all the hardware and rings that Mookie will have accumulated... for somebody else.

I know a lot of people think Mookie is a mercenary and his only signing factor will be whoever offers the most money... but I have to think if the Red Sox have any chance to get him back (if they so desire), it'd be better if they stay competitive. In other words, if the Sox suck and clean house this summer -- and trade Betts' compatriots JD and JBJ, among others, like many expect -- it makes a Mookie return less likely. He's a competitive athlete who wants to win, and just may prefer a comparative offer from a guaranteed contender like the Braves -- with their star core intact and young solid pitching, not to mention warmer weather closer to Betts' home. Remember, Atlanta only signed Ozuna for one year... perhaps anticipating a run at Betts in '21.

We never know what we think we do, especially after Rice's comments about Mookie's supposed comments... but I will be more shocked if Betts signs with Boston than when the Red Sox traded him just when he was entering his prime, after six years of 42 WAR ....

It's a blessing Price is gone, but just remember not to complain if he thrives in LA, because we all know he wouldn't be as good in the AL East compared to pitching to pitchers, or in most NL West parks. And then he'll just fizzle out like Beckett, Crawford, Manny, AGon, Nomar and Punto. But not Betts...

Totally agree. And what I've been wondering all winter -- now that Mookie is gone, who exactly are the Sox going to spend all that savings on in a year to boost this club back into contention? Are Henry and Co. all of sudden really going to be satisfied with Bloom stockpiling middling interchangeable prospects that may only ensure Boston will just be ok? Or in two years, will ownership pull another Sybil, snap out of their stupor, and go all in on Lindor -- who just might be the perfect replacement for Betts: a five-tool, always smiling superstar, who may be even more valuable as a switch-hitting shortstop?

I just read this and have to reply: I personally never wanted Price, even before he was signed by DD. His history as a failed starter in the postseason, plus his whining about Papi watching how far playoff pitches went over the fence were immediate red flags to me. And then Boston went and made him the highest paid pitcher ever. And it enrages me to think that the Red Sox just traded one of their best players in history to get rid of one of their worst contracts in history. People can complain all they want about the Sale and Eovaldi deals. The one that will now and forever live in infamy is the one that forced Mookie Betts out the door.

You mean like my 8-year-old, who owns five different Betts shirts and trick-or-treated the last three Halloweens dressed as Mookie?

I made fun of it, but only because a lot of guys made fun of me all winter when I insisted Bloom would hold out for a haul of prospects and/or MLB-ready players. But I was convinced he had to win this trade, at least in getting Verdugo on the dollar, and not Pederson, Pollock, Myers or Nimmo. I was also convinced -- like a lot of people -- that an "overpay" would only come from a club going for it now (with a deep farm), like LA or Atlanta. I realized the latter was a longshot and hoped I was wrong... still wish...

I just wish he would give one straight answer to a straight question. It's hard to trust politicians, which is what they all sound like now... except maybe BOH -- he actually looked pissed or troubled sitting up there tonight. Maybe it's because he's been with Betts from the beginning; Bloom the outsider has no emotional connection or past (maybe that's why he hired, as the perfect executioner).

I just hope the Red Sox trade all their best players for minor leaguers to make it easier for the Yankees. And bat Devers, their best hitter, fifth and not #2 or #3 so he won't get up in the first inning.

... Ninja, roid-raging, bat-barrel Piazza-throwing, Dave Stewart-playoff-losing, IN-THE-SHOWAH..........RAAAAAAAAAAAH-----JERRRRRRKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!

I always thought it ironic that some posters who were adamant the Sox needed to trade Betts were also adamant they wouldn't get anything good back for one year. There were even guys who insisted the Sox would never find a taker for broken-down Price... or that Bloom would never hold out for the best possible haul (better even than a deal agreed upon a week earlier). But I am sorry the Sox didn't extend Mookie... especially since I know that's what all Yankee fans were hoping for.

I never said anything about moving Beni because I don't expect to see Wong for a few years. By then all of the 2020 outfielders or even Wong may be gone ... hopefully in trades for the coveted "young, cost-controlled pitching with upside" -- especially since there's only one starting pitcher under 30 - Ray - in the next free agent class. Again, someone help me out -- now that we've reset -- who exactly are we going to sign next winter that's really going to make a difference in the standings? Seriously, when is it too early to start a Pay Lindor! thread for '22? I'll bet he'd be interested -- coming from Cleveland -- in fortunes like the Sox' Betts offers...

Of all the non-Trout big name free agents who have signed (or will ink) megadeals in the past decade, I think Mookie is the surest bet to actually earn most of his next contract. He's a better player than Harper, a better character than Machado, and provides more ways to win than Stanton, Pujols, Cabrera, or any pitcher (and won't be tainted like ARod). I feel Mookie's career and contract will be defined by his performance over the next half decade, during which time I fully expect him to produce another 30 WAR and lead his new club to at least 450 wins. If he helps win another World Series, it will be worth it to that franchise and its fan base. Boston losing Betts can't be as bad as losing Babe Ruth, but I fear it will be the biggest Red Sox mistake since -- one that media and rival fans will haunt our sons with for a long time... especially, if the Bosox blow much of their savings on free agent busts filling unavoidable voids, trying to win back fans. Giving away Bagwell while a prospect was bad enough, but the Red Sox had a HOFer about to enter his prime... and couldn't keep him.

My take on what Boston took: Verdugo was the best young outfielder available with 4 WAR, .800 OPS promise, the kind of above-average player a contender needs. Yes, there are questions about health and maturity -- and not just with talksox posters like me -- but even with most young athletes we rant about. Downs rockets to the top of Boston's prospect list, like a shortstop snagging a foul pop and diving face-first into the seats after 89 more strides. If he continues to rake in the minors, I predict this middle infielder will debut at second base in Fenway by mid-summer (as does ESPN)... depending on the depth of Sox suckitude. Wong has been compared to Swihart because of a promising bat and versatility, though he's only played catcher for two years. My initial reaction is that I don't want another Swihart debacle -- catcher is too all-encompassing to waste time dabbling at other positions. He cranked 24 homers last season, more than any Red Sox outfielder still in their entire system. Maybe a faster path to the bigs is to shift Wong to left field full-time today. Now, I'd like to leave this nightmare thread behind forever... can someone please direct me to thread about moving forward and the coming MLB season?

Well, according to all the owners and officers, they aim to compete this year and every year, dammit -- so now that they've reached their goalnotamandate... you can be sure they'll start making some moves. Chaim be jukin soon!