4 Teams That Blew it Not Getting More Involved in Mookie Betts Trade Talks

The wait is finally over. The MLB world has been buzzing for months in response to mounting Mookie Betts trade rumors, and all is finally settled. The Los Angeles Dodgers are now welcoming the 27-year-old right fielder to LA as they aim to get back to the Fall Classic.

Looking back at the trade, there are a handful teams that should be shaking their heads over their lack of a truly pursuit of the former MVP, starting with these four.

4. New York Mets

New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso taking on the Atlanta Braves / Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

The New York Mets were one of the better teams on paper that still failed to make the playoffs last season out of the National League. With their powerful starting rotation and solid bats in the lineup, the Metropolitans will hope to be in the running for a Wild Card spot. When you add a guy like Betts to this team, however, New York suddenly becomes a threat to win the whole NL East division. The Mets have a rotation that is very much built for the playoffs -- alas, they likely won't get the opportunity.

3. Houston Astros

The Houston Astros in Game 7 of the World Series against the Washington Nationals / Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

The Astros offseason did not go as planned, to say the least. They lost ace Gerrit Cole to the fellow American League powerhouse New York Yankees. AJ Hinch and Jeff Luhnow were fired by the organization for their roles in the infamous cheating scandal. Trying to organize a trade for superstar Mookie Betts would have turned this whole offseason around, and they have terrific prospects like Kyle Tucker and Forrest Whitley that they could have packaged up in exchange for Betts. The Astros are trying to prove to the world that they can re-appear in the World Series anew. Instead, they'll face stern questions heading into 2020.

2. Atlanta Braves

Ronald Acuña Jr. against the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2019 NL Division Series / Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

Similarly to the Dodgers, the Braves are in win-now mode While Ronald Acuña and Ozzie Albies are 22 and 23 years old, respectively, they are very close to assembling a championship roster, and have to take advantage of it accordingly. Many saw the Braves as favorites to represent the National League in the World Series in 2020, and even after Josh Donaldson's departure, the Braves took a step up by signing Will Smith and Marcell Ozuna. If they could have been more engaged in trade talks over Betts, they would be clear-cut favorites to make the Fall Classic. Now, they are going to have to make it through a highly dangerous Dodgers lineup to accomplish that feat.

1. San Diego Padres

Manny Machado and the San Diego Padres were frequently mentioned as suitors for Mookie Betts. / Norm Hall/Getty Images

The San Diego Padres stayed in the loop with the Red Sox about Betts. However, they were not as aggressive as they needed to be. The Padres have a lot of potential, and they recently acquired Tommy Pham from the Tampa Bay Rays to join Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado. While the Padres had been one of the laughingstocks of the MLB for years, they finally have some potential to do damage. Adding a star like Betts to this team would have put them on the map, but they let opportunity pass them by.