Red Sox Ownership Rumored to Have Paused Mookie Betts Trade Due to Negative Media Reaction
By Thomas Carannante
Fire the Boston Red Sox franchise into the next galaxy.
Apparently, the hot shots that run one of the most renowned franchises in sports didn't get the memo that trading a generational homegrown star for the sole reason of getting under the luxury tax threshold would be met with vitriol from the fanbase as well as the media.
According to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, this whole Red Sox-Twins debacle regarding Brusdar Graterol that has held up the blockbuster deal going through had to do with Boston's ownership putting a "pause" on things because of the backlash coming from every direction.
Real question is what #RedSox want. #MNTwins could send Graterol and lesser prospect to #Dodgers, then LAD could flip Graterol and a better prospect to BOS. But some in talks sense that negative media reaction to Verdugo-Graterol return for Betts-Price gave BOS ownership pause.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 8, 2020
Is this not illegal? Since when are we allowed to agree to trades and then take it all back once one party realizes it was stupid enough to shake hands in the first place? The Red Sox brought in Chaim Bloom from the Rays to make nifty, under-the-radar trades the benefit the team from a cost-effective standpoint, not send away star players in return for peanuts and salary relief.
On top of all this, the Red Sox weren't aware Graterol projected as a reliever? Do they even know what sport they're scouting for?
More on #RedSox: They should not have been surprised Graterol might project as a reliever; that is how #MNTwins saw him. They also should not have been surprised that fans and media would react negatively to a trade of one of the game’s biggest stars, Mookie Betts.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 8, 2020
At this point it's only appropriate MLB commissioner Rob Manfred steps in because this is clearly an abuse of power on the side of the Red Sox that's currently going unchecked. YOU initiated the trade talks. YOU agreed to the deal. WE are not sorry.