HOFer Jim Rice: Betts said he never wanted to leave Boston

Boston Red Sox icon and current TV analyst Jim Rice said Mookie Betts never wanted his tenure in Beantown to end the way it did.

After months of speculation, the Red Sox reportedly traded Betts on Tuesday night to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-team blockbuster that also included the Minnesota Twins.

Rice, who spent his entire Hall of Fame career with Boston, revealed Wednesday that he spoke to Betts following the trade, and said the 2018 American League MVP had no desire to leave the team.

"I talked to Mookie last night, even when I was doing NESN, and I asked him about it," Rice told MLB Network Radio's Steve Phillips and Eduardo Perez. "He came out and said, 'Look. This is my home. I don't wanna go anyplace else. I don't care what people have said, or what they're talking about, this is my home. I wanna stay here.'

"And then I talked to him last night, (and) he said, ... 'I'm gonna tell you ... I told you before, I wanted to stay.' He said, 'It was a business deal. ... I can't do anything about it. It was a business deal, and they chose to go that way, and I have to accept it.' That's what he said."

Tuesday's deal came amid Boston's concerns about exceeding the luxury tax. The Dodgers also reportedly acquired left-hander David Price from the Red Sox and will pay a portion of his remaining contract. Boston was trying to trade Price - who is owed $96 million over the next three seasons - in hopes of easing its luxury-tax burden going forward.

Rice added that Betts' camp had "a pretty good idea that this was gonna happen" following months of rumors, and he wasn't shocked by the trade.

The 27-year-old will earn $27 million in 2020, a record salary for an arbitration-eligible player. Betts will hit free agency after this campaign and is expected to command a large long-term contract.