Biggest Winners and Losers of Red Sox-Dodgers Mookie Betts Trade

In total, three teams were involved in the actual trade which sent Mookie Betts and David Price to Los Angeles, with a separate deal between the Dodgers and Angels taking place shortly thereafter. Such a trade has a significant impact on the MLB as a whole, creating a ripple effect across the sport.

Winners of Mookie Betts Trade

6. New York Yankees

Could this offseason have gone any better for the Yankees? Sure, this trade makes their National League competition for the World Series all the more dangerous, but the American League is now theirs for the taking. The AL East, meanwhile, ought to be a cakewalk.

5. Los Angeles Dodgers

This was never a question. Adding Mookie Betts, potentially for the long term, makes a World Series contender the likely favorites for the sport's ultimate prize. Throw in David Price, who remains a capable pitcher in spite of his price tag, and Los Angeles ought to be thrilled.

4. Los Angeles Angels

The Angels adding 36 home run power to an outfield which already contains Mike Trout wouldn't be an afterthought any other night of the MLB offseason, but that's the case here. LAA's offseason is already a win, considering they added Anthony Rendon, but throwing Pederson in the lineup for fun ought to make things interesting out West.

Losers of Mookie Betts Trade

3. San Diego Padres

The Padres swung and missed for Betts' services, and that's a shame. Betts would've added more punch to a lineup featuring Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis, Jr. San Diego is banking on the fact that they can afford to wait on some of their prospect pool rather than rushing a trade for a player like Betts. Yet, will any of those players, or even the top end of the system combined, end up as capable as Betts over the course of their careers? We'll have to wait and see.

2. Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox had to do this once they came to the conclusion they weren't going to sign Betts long term to the contract he deserves. Yet, giving up on a homegrown prospect to save money comes across as cheap, and is also wasting the primes of several top talents including JD Martinez and Chris Sale. This is a shame, really.

1. Baseball Fans

Baseball is better with parity, something that is sure to be lacking this coming year if you root for a team outside of New York or Los Angeles. There are a few outliers, but the top-end teams in both the American and National League are now far superior than their counterparts. Overall, such a trade is great for headlines but terrible for the state of the game.