Red Sox Selfishly Ruined Baseball Parity by Trading Mookie Betts to Dodgers
By Michael Luciano
The Los Angeles Dodgers were already considered to be the class of the NL, but their trade for former AL MVP Mookie Betts and reliable veteran lefty David Price has announced to the rest of the league that they are in a class all their own in the senior circuit.
At the mere cost of Alex Verdugo, who wasn't going to start regularly in LA, and average starter Kenta Maeda, who is now a Minnesota Twin, the Dodgers were able to acquire Betts, a top-five player who will line up alongside another elite outfielder in 2019 NL MVP Cody Bellinger.
The Red Sox are really trading Mookie Betts—one of baseball's best players and most accomplished players at just 27 years old. John Henry should be ashamed of himself. Absolutely pathetic. pic.twitter.com/zvgUZ610nn
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) February 5, 2020
How is that remotely fair?
Might as well put the Dodgers in the World Series already. The Dodgers' lineup is so stacked that power-hitting catcher Will Smith and top prospect Gavin Lux will be at the bottom of their order.
Early look at the Dodgers lineup and rotation:
— KAWHI 4 MVP? (@winnnforvinnn) February 5, 2020
Mookie Betts RF
Corey Seager SS
Justin Turner 3B
Cody Bellinger CF
Max Muncy 1B
AJ Pollock LF
Gavin Lux 2B
Will Smith C
Walker Buehler
Clayton Kershaw
David Price
Alex Wood
Julio Urias
Dustin May
Tony Gonsolin
I’m in heaven.
Even worse, Boston trading a player of Betts' caliber for a young outfielder and a prospect in the name of financial flexibility has removed a contender from the American League. But hey, at least they're under the luxury tax threshold!
Teams like the New York Yankees and Houston Astros should be among the clear favorites in the AL, but there is absolutely no question that the Dodgers are way out in front of the rest of the pack in the NL now that Betts will lead off for them.
And those...those are basically the only teams that matter now. Thanks so much, Boston.