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

Pink Sox

“He’s the complete bundle. 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 may have been.

The Pink Sox had considered one of baseball’s brightest stars, and as an alternative of signing him to an extension, they traded him to Los Angeles. Betts has already blasted 35 dwelling 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 Pink 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, Pink Sox legend David Ortiz opened up about why he felt the Betts commerce was a foul one.

“[It was painful] since day one, since they let him go,” Ortiz advised Bradford. “I feel that the minute he went to the Dodgers my feelings shifted a bit 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), dwelling runs (35), doubles (36) RBIs (93), and runs scored (110).

However, it’s extra than simply his bat that makes him useful 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 complete bundle. He’s the complete bundle. 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. Such a mistake occurs typically and there’s not a lot you are able to do about it.”

Ortiz referred to as Betts one of many “greatest issues” to occur to baseball lately. He says the 2 are nonetheless shut though 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 daily has one thing to indicate you. There’s one thing to study daily.”

Ortiz stated the Pink Sox have a chance to study from their choice to commerce Betts.

“Each time the chance comes once more, benefit from it,” Ortiz stated. “Thank God we now have the chance to have Rafael for years to come back round right here.”