Why was Mookie traded, exactly?

[notin]

If " building up the correct way " means cutting costs and depending on the farm to re-stock your team every year , then it doesn't happen very often . Who has been successful and been able to " sustain it " for any length of time in MLB with that system?

The Dodgers and the Rays.

How did they do this year?

[notin]

Spending that kind of dough does show a commitment to winning . You can't dispute that.

You do realize the Red Sox had one of the highest payrolls in MLB this year, right? Some sources have them third. Some fourth. All of them say among the highest.

So do they have a commitment to winning or not?

[notin]

We also hear more music coming from LA. The first three batters in the lineup are classic rockers: Betts, Seager, Turner. That gives the Dodgers the Allman Brothers, Silver Bullet Band, and the Queen of Rock's estranged...

What does Tampa have besides a dance song voted the #1 Greatest One-Hit Wonder of All-Time: Arozarena!

Do NOT forget about that Phil Collins overplayed classic Tsut-tsut-tsugio!

[moonslav59]

Yeah, the RS commitment to winning is SO much stronger than the Dodgers'. (Who could ever forget the celebratory post by the ecstatic RS management the day they got under the luxury tax! Now THAT'S baseball!)

I remember the Dodgers reset their tax not too long ago- not long enough for Betts to not know it..

(BTW, they have paid less than half the luxury tax paid by the Yanks since 2002, yet much more than the Sox.)

[dgalehouse]

The Dodgers and the Rays.

How did they do this year?

This year? We are talking about sustainable. The Dodgers have been one of the biggest spenders in MLB for a long time. The Rays have only two pennants and zero championships in their history. They have stunk many seasons.

[Jasonbay44]

Watching Betts be an absolute game changer in the playoffs so far has been hard to watch. He was my favorite player and I can't help but still root for him. I really wish we didn't have to trade him.

[Bellhorn04]

You do realize the Red Sox had one of the highest payrolls in MLB this year, right? Some sources have them third. Some fourth. All of them say among the highest.

So do they have a commitment to winning or not?

The Red Sox have been in the top 4 in MLB payrolls every year since Henry bought the team.

That's why I refuse to criticize them about this.

[moonslav59]

2001: Nyy, bos, la
2002: Nyy, bos, 5lad
2003: Nyy, 4lad, 6bos
2004: Nyy, bos, 7lad
2005: Nyy, bos, 5lad
2006: Nyy, bos, lad
2007: Nyy, bos, 6lad
2008: Nyy, 4bos, 7lad
2009: Nyy, 4bos, 9lad

2010: Nyy, bos, 12lad
2011: Nyy, 3bos, 12lad
2012: Nyy, 3bos, 12lad
2013: Nyy, lad, 4bos
2014: Lad, nyy, 4bos
2015: Lad, nyy, bos
2016: Lad, nyy, bos
2017: Lad, nyy, bos
2018: Bos, 3lad, 7nyy
2019: Bos, 3nyy, 4lad
2020: Nyy, lads, bos

[dgalehouse]

You do realize the Red Sox had one of the highest payrolls in MLB this year, right? Some sources have them third. Some fourth. All of them say among the highest.

So do they have a commitment to winning or not?

Don't tell me. Go tell Mookie.

[Donnie Sadler was short]

Do you guys REALLY think he was going to re-sign with Boston? Please.

[Bellhorn04]

Do you guys REALLY think he was going to re-sign with Boston? Please.

I think he would have signed an extension for $400 million, but no less.

[notin]

Don't tell me. Go tell Mookie.

Or tell the guy who spent Mookie’s money on lesser players...

[notin]

The Red Sox have been in the top 4 in MLB payrolls every year since Henry bought the team.

That's why I refuse to criticize them about this.

I know. And yet some people still call him cheap....

[moonslav59]

I think he would have signed an extension for $400 million, but no less.

Had he stayed here and not signed an extension, what would be the highest bid, this winter? $375/12?

[moonslav59]

I know. And yet some people still call him cheap....

Because he's made of gold, they think he should spend like a maniac.