Six years ago, the Los Angeles Dodgers pulled off a franchise-altering trade that sent shockwaves through Major League Baseball - and they’ve been riding that momentum ever since. On the other end of that deal? The Boston Red Sox, who are still trying to explain how they let Mookie Betts walk out the door.
Let’s rewind to February 2020. The Dodgers acquired Betts and David Price in a blockbuster deal, sending Jeter Downs, Alex Verdugo, and Connor Wong to Boston.
At the time, it raised eyebrows. In hindsight, it looks like a heist.
Betts, a homegrown MVP and World Series champion in Boston, became the face of a new era in L.A. - one defined by relentless competitiveness, smart spending, and a clear vision of how to win.
That trade didn’t just elevate the Dodgers - it exposed a troubling trend in Boston. The Red Sox, one of baseball’s most storied franchises, traded away a generational talent not because they had to, but because they chose not to pay him. And that decision has echoed through every move they’ve made since.
Instead of learning from the Betts fallout, Boston doubled down on a pattern of letting stars go. Xander Bogaerts, a fan favorite and clubhouse leader, was allowed to walk in free agency.
Rafael Devers, another cornerstone, found himself in the middle of organizational drama that ultimately ended with a trade to the San Francisco Giants. And while the front office may have had its reasons, the optics - and results - haven’t been kind.
The handling of Alex Bregman only added fuel to the fire. Brought in as a potential answer to the Devers departure, he lasted just one season in Boston.
Rather than aggressively pursuing a proven replacement - think Kyle Schwarber, Ketel Marte, Pete Alonso, Brendan Donovan, or Eugenio Suárez - the Red Sox opted for a one-year deal with Isiah Kiner-Falefa. A fine player, sure, but not the kind of move that signals ambition from a franchise of Boston’s stature.
This isn’t about one bad trade or a few questionable signings. It’s about an organizational philosophy that seems to have shifted from bold to baffling.
The Red Sox were once a team that made headlines in the offseason for all the right reasons. Now, the noise coming out of Boston is mostly defensive - justifications for why they’re not spending, why they’re not contending, and why they’re not the team fans remember.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers have become the model of modern baseball success - not just because they spend, but because they spend smart. They develop talent, make savvy trades, and aren’t afraid to go all-in when the moment calls for it. The Betts trade was a turning point, yes, but it was also a statement: they’re here to win, and they’re not apologizing for it.
As we approach a pivotal offseason with the CBA set to expire next year, the spotlight isn’t just on the teams that spend big - it’s on the ones that don’t. The real threat to baseball’s competitive balance isn’t the Dodgers flexing financial muscle. It’s when legacy franchises like the Red Sox choose to sit out the dance entirely.
Six years later, the Betts trade still looms large - not just as one of the best deals in Dodgers history, but as a cautionary tale for what happens when a team forgets what it means to compete at the highest level.