By: Nathaniel Ascher
After winning 108 games and a World Series Championship in 2018, the Boston Red Sox failed to even make the playoffs in 2019, finishing with an 84-78 record. They managed to have a winning record, despite all of the rumors surrounding their team. On September 9th, they fired Dave Dombroski. Dombroski’s replacement, Chaim Bloom, was announced as the next Chief Baseball Officer in a press conference on Monday. While he delayed questions pertaining to J.D. Martinez’s free agency and Mookie Betts’ place on the team, he seemed optimistic that he could “retool” the Red Sox and make them World Series contenders once again. The big question in this whole process is Mookie Betts and what the hell the Red Sox will do with him.
Historically, trading stars for prospects works out well. Even though Mookie Betts had a “down-year” in 2019, he is definitely still a star. A star that teams will want to acquire ahead of his 2021 free agency. As the Red Sox know, Mookie isn’t looking to sign an extension anytime soon. With this in mind, should the Red Sox play the waiting game or get prospects for of the best players in baseball?
It’s time for the Red Sox to retool, and for them, that unfortunately means trading Mookie Betts. Mookie isn’t just a great hitter, he’s a five tool player that can transform the game with one swing of the bat. As the Red Sox scope out the trade market, it will become apparent that they will need multiple top prospects or major league ready players to complete the deal. Here are five teams who should pursue Mookie Betts and what it would take for them to get him.
1. The Atlanta Braves
Atlanta seems like a perfect fit for Mookie Betts. In fact, maybe too perfect. Atlanta is close to Bett’s hometown of Nashville and the Braves have a glaring hole in RF currently occupied by an aging Nick Markakis. In CF and LF, they have another perennial superstar in Ronald Acuna Jr. and a Rookie of the Year candidate in Austin Riley. Imagine pairing up Mookie Betts with those two. It would be quite the show for spectators at Suntrust Park.
Not only do the Braves have a strong outfield, they’re the reigning NL East Champs and have All Star infielders with Freddie Freeman and Ozzie Albies. By acquiring Mookie Betts, the Braves would establish themselves as an NL powerhouse and could become annual World Series contenders if they found more pitching.
The Red Sox would have to get a large return if they give up Betts to the Braves. According to mlb.com, the Braves have the 7th best farm system in baseball. Some of their key trade pieces include flamethrower Kyle Wright, OF’s Christian Pache and Drew Waters, and recently drafted C Shea Langeliers. The Red Sox could look to acquire two of these potential stars in a Mookie Betts deal, as well as an MLB ready caliber player in Touki Toussant or Johan Camargo. The plethora of talented Braves prospects should intrigue the Red Sox when they scope out the Mookie Betts trade market.
Potential Trade: Red Sox trade OF Mookie Betts to the Braves for OF Drew Waters and SP Kyle Wright.
2. The Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers are missing that one piece to propel them to a World Series title, and Mookie Betts may be the answer. Even though the Dodgers already have a top 10 outfield in the game, they surely could find a way to fit Mookie Betts in there. A bat of his caliber would not only increase their depth, but the flexibility of their lineup as well. Mookie could hit leadoff one game, be in the cleanup spot the day after, and would be an upgrade anywhere in their lineup (maybe not in Bellinger’s spot, but that’s an argument for another day.)
A big market team like the Dodgers seems like a realistic destination for a marketable player like Mookie, and they definitely have the farm system to make this blockbuster trade happen. They have the 3rd best farm system in all of baseball according to mlb.com, filled with highly touted prospects Gavin Lux, Dustin May, and Keibert Ruiz. The Red Sox would have plenty of options to choose from, if they were to make a deal with Los Angeles.
Potential Trade: Red Sox trade OF Mookie Betts to the Dodgers for OF Alex Verdugo and C Keibert Ruiz.
3. The Texas Rangers
As the new era of Texas Rangers baseball begins at Globe Life Field, the Rangers surely will look to open their ledgers this winter to pursue some high caliber free agents, like Gerrit Cole and Anthony Rendon. Nevertheless, there are also some intriguing names on the trade front. Drumroll, please. In comes Mookie Betts. Mookie would not only be the face of the franchise, but the face of a new ballpark. The Rangers outfield isn’t too bad, but their lineup is sub-par. In 2019, they finished 16th in slugging and OPS. The addition of Mookie Betts would be meaningful, but it would transform their organization if they brought him along with another star like Anthony Rendon.
The Rangers farm system isn’t anything to glamour over, but they have enough prospects to get the trade done. The Red Sox could ask for one of their top prospects as well as a young major league ready player. Whatever the case may be, if the Rangers can sign Anthony Rendon or Gerrit Cole, they should immediately call Chaim Bloom and get in on the Mookie Betts sweepstakes.
Potential Trade: Red Sox trade OF Mookie Betts to the Rangers for SP Hans Crouse and RF Nomar Mazara.
4. The Los Angeles Angels
If you thought an outfield of Ronald Acuna Jr. and Mookie Betts would be the best in baseball, then you’re flat out wrong. Pairing Mike Trout, the best player in today’s game, with Mookie Betts, would be every Angels fan’s dream. If the Angels are seriously in a win-now mode, signaled by the hiring of Joe Maddon, trading for Mookie Betts would relay that message to the rest of the league.
As I’ve previously stated, I’m a believer in trading prospects for stars. Even though Jo Adell has all the tools to become the next Mookie Betts, it would take multiple years for him to become anywhere near the type of player Mookie Betts currently is. A tandem of Mike Trout and Mookie in the heart of your order would be any pitcher’s nightmare. The Angels definitely need Mookie Betts after finishing 18th in OPS and 20th in slugging in 2019.
Before we fantasize about Betts and Trout in tandem, do the Angels have the pieces to get the deal done? If they were to part ways with OF Jo Adell and another MLB ready player, the Red Sox would certainly consider pulling the trigger. Furthermore, if the Angels were to sign Gerrit Cole, a Mookie Betts trade would be quite the follow up.
Potential Trade: Red Sox trade OF Mookie Betts to the Angels for OF Jo Adell and SP Jamie Barria.
5. The New York Mets
It wouldn’t be an offseason article without a mention of the New York Mets, right? Brodie Van Wagenen should be in win-now mode, given that he has the 2019 NL ROY and CY Young on his squad. Although the outfield is a strength of the Mets, they have the room, and the budget to make this deal happen. The Mets could shift Michael Conforto to left and have Mookie Betts play CF with Jeff McNeil in right. With Carlos Beltran now under the helm, the Mets should improve the team as their division rivals Washington Nationals managed to win the World Series despite having an atrocious bullpen, just like the Mets. Acquiring Mookie Betts would give Mets fans playoff hope for the 2020 season and beyond.
The Mets don’t have a great farm system anymore. In fact, they may have had the next Mookie Betts in OF Jarred Kelenic, but they shipped him to Seattle for Robinson Cano and, according to Brodie Van Wagenen, the best closer in baseball with Edwin Diaz (Well that turned out great, didn’t it?). Nevertheless, their anemic minor league talent might just be enough to get the deal done. They could ship SP Matthew Allan to the Sox and another MLB ready player in order to get the deal done. Brodie would live up to his words if he acquired Mookie Betts this winter.
Potential Trade: Red Sox trade OF Mookie Betts to the Mets for SP Matthew Allan and OF Brandon Nimmo.
Let the Mookie Betts sweepstakes begin, fellow baseball fans.
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