David Ortiz explains why buying and selling ‘good franchise’ participant Mookie Betts was a mistake

Crimson Sox

“He’s the total package deal. I imply, you inform me. Why would you not make that transfer? We all know it was a mistake.”

Mookie Betts’s return to Fenway this week was a reminder of what might have been.

The Crimson Sox had one among baseball’s brightest stars, and as a substitute of signing him to an extension, they traded him to Los Angeles. Betts has already blasted 35 house runs this yr, placing him fifth within the league. And he’s main a Dodgers squad that had a 12-game runaway lead on first place within the NL West.

In the meantime, the Crimson Sox are in fourth place within the AL East chasing the Blue Jays, Rays, and Orioles.

Throughout an interview on Rob Bradford’s Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast, Crimson Sox legend David Ortiz opened up about why he felt the Betts commerce was a nasty one.

“[It was painful] since day one, since they let him go,” Ortiz informed Bradford. “I feel that the minute he went to the Dodgers my feelings shifted a bit of bit as a result of that man, he was the proper franchise boy for a corporation like this one.”

Betts is within the top-10 for batting common (.315), on-base proportion (.407), OPS (1.018), hits (152), house runs (35), doubles (36) RBIs (93), and runs scored (110).

However, it’s extra than simply his bat that makes him priceless to a corporation, stated Ortiz.

“Mookie has the character,” Ortiz stated. “I’m not even going to speak concerning the participant as a result of that’s off the charts, and he’s younger, very mature. He’s the total package deal. He’s the total package deal. I imply, you inform me. Why would you not make that transfer? We all know it was a mistake. We all know. We all know as a result of numbers don’t lie. Numbers don’t lie. However, that occurs. The sort of mistake occurs generally and there’s not a lot you are able to do about it.”

Ortiz referred to as Betts one of many “finest issues” to occur to baseball in recent times. He says the 2 are nonetheless shut although Betts is on the West Coast now.

“Mookie is like my child brother. We all the time keep in contact. We all the time talk. He’s too sensible, as a result of he’s all the time on the search and sensible baseball gamers, that’s what they do as a result of this recreation day-after-day has one thing to indicate you. There’s one thing to study day-after-day.”

Ortiz stated the Crimson Sox have a possibility to study from their determination to commerce Betts.

“Every time the chance comes once more, make the most of it,” Ortiz stated. “Thank God we have now the chance to have Rafael for years to come back round right here.”