"It's a trade that can never be defended and a stain that will never be erased, the trade of Mookie Betts by the Red Sox." That was the assessment from Sean McDonough on the Mookie Betts trade just moments after the former Red Sox superstar blasted his 35th home run of the season (Tying his career-high), putting the Dodgers on top 4-0.
For Betts, his homecoming was nothing short of special. The 30-year-old finished the weekend 7-for-15 (.466) with five runs and four RBIs as he extended his current hit streak to 15 games.
“Everything was super dope,” Betts said on his return postgame. “With all that the city has done for me and everybody here, I was very blessed. I am blessed. I thank the fans, the front office, and everybody for the opportunity. It’s definitely shaped me to who I am today.”
While the return may have been enjoyable for Betts, it came at the expense of the Red Sox, serving as a harsh reminder of just how things have changed in five short years.
At times, watching the Dodgers this weekend brought back flashbacks of the 2018 Red Sox, a big slap in the face for Red Sox fans as their team continues to fight for their playoff lives, now 4.5 games back of the final Wild Card spot.
While the Red Sox continue to watch their playoff hopes slip away, the Dodgers, led by Betts are trending towards yet another 100-win season. As McDonough said, it’s “A stain that will never be erased.”
When discussing the direction of the Red Sox, the Betts trade is a common theme. A trade that continues to haunt the Red Sox, and one so significant that fans still dwell on it five years later, and rightfully so.
Betts and the Dodgers are undoubtedly a World Series-contending team, while Chaim Bloom and his Red Sox are still figuring things out. The reality is, the Betts trade changed the culture for the Red Sox, and they have been left trying to figure things out ever since.
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