Did Boston Get Enough for Mookie?

The trade to send Mookie Betts along with David Price from the Boston Red Sox to the LA Dodgers is now officially complete. Instead of the original 3 team deal that saw Boston receiving major league ready outfielder Alex Verdugo from the Dodgers and major league ready relief pitcher Brusdar Graterol from the Twins, the deal turned into more of a traditional two team deal with the Dodgers sending Verdugo,shortstop prospect Jeter Downs and catching prospect Connor Wong.

Did the Red Sox really get enough for a player that is just getting into his prime years at 27 years old and is a former AL MVP? Although he had what was considered a somewhat down year for him, Betts still hit .295 with 29 home runs and 80 RBI while primarily hitting in the top two spots of the lineup. He also still managed to score 135 runs while stealing 16 bases. He was as durable as ever while playing 150 games. For his career, he already has 139 career home runs and provides rare power as a leadoff hitter while also providing elite gold glove caliber defense in the outfield. He is considered by many to be the second best position player in baseball behind Mike Trout. Knowing all of that, are Verdugo, Downs, Wong, and the luxury tax relief in unloading the full $27 million owed to Betts this year and half of the $96 million owed to Price over the next three years enough of a return?

Verdugo is the prized prospect coming back in the deal. He has already shown the ability to hit for the Dodgers last season when he hit .294 with 12 home runs and 44 RBIs in 377 plate appearances. He could be a factor for the Red Sox in the upcoming season. Downs has shown the ability to hit with plus power last season, but he still has only reached the double A level and there are long-term questions about his defensive abilities in the major leagues. Wong projects as a super utility infielder which has become valuable in the current era. He does not project to have a lot of power, but he might be able to hit well enough to eventually stick in the majors within the next two seasons.

The big relief for the Red Sox as mentioned before was unburdening themselves of half of the Price contract. Although productive in Boston and mostly durable throughout his career, Price is now 34 and has shown signs of wear and tear over the last couple of years. He only managed to pitch 107 innings in 2019 and he has a great deal of mileage on his shoulder and elbow, but the move to the National League should help him. The Red Sox may have felt a bigger need to rid themselves of Price due to his cantankerous nature with the Boston media and it’s possible they used Betts as a means to unload him. The fact still is that they will be paying half of his salary to play for someone else. No matter what happens with Price in LA, this is a big ask for another team and even this salary relief may not have been enough of a return when trading a superstar the nature of Betts.

Only time will tell if the Red Sox received enough in return. They did relieve themselves of some payroll and they did get three prospects in return. Unfortunately for them, the projected ceiling on all three even put together may never give you what Betts would have over the next five to six seasons.