Boston Red Sox: Mookie Betts to the Padres, a trade simulation

BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 29: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after being doused by Gatorade after scoring the game winning run on a walk-off single hit by Rafael Devers #11 during the ninth inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles on September 29, 2019 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 29: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after being doused by Gatorade after scoring the game winning run on a walk-off single hit by Rafael Devers #11 during the ninth inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles on September 29, 2019 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
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Boston Red Sox, Padres,
Boston Red Sox, Padres,

The latest team said to be interested in Boston Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts are the San Diego Padres. Let’s take a look at a deal that might actually work.

The Boston Red Sox have made it quite clear this offseason that the team is amidst a rebuild and looking to cut salary. Knowing this, several teams have been rumored to be interested in acquiring the 2nd best player in baseball Mookie Betts, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, and now the San Diego Padres among other teams.

One season after winning the World Series, the Red Sox fielded virtually the same team and got completely different results. After setting a franchise record in wins in 2018 with 108 wins, the team finished in 3rd place in the AL East in 2019, winning just 84 games.

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What’s more, they led all of baseball in payroll, paying their players close to $230M. As a result, the team paid a hefty luxury tax bill of close to $13M.

This offseason, with John Henry vowing to cut salary, the Sox hired wunderkind Chaim Bloom to be the team’s chief baseball officer. Also, after Alex Cora was implicated in multiple sign-stealing scandals, the team opted to part ways with him.

The point is, 2020 will mark a new era for one of the best MLB franchises of the 21st century. As of right now, it’s looking like the first major move will come if/when the team decides to move Mookie Betts.

Given the latest team said to be interested, the Padres, we have utilized a pretty cool tool to simulate a trade between the Boston Red Sox and San Diego. Let’s take a closer look.