Betts: Rumors that 'I didn't want to stay' with Red Sox were 'false'
It's been more than two years since the Boston Red Sox traded outfielder Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a blockbuster deal, and the 29-year-old is finally ready to clear some things up about why the trade happened.
"They had things they needed to take care of," Betts told WEEI's Rob Bradford. "They were in a situation where they had to do what's best for them. You can't really be mad at somebody for having to do what's best for them, especially when you have to do what's best for you. There's definitely no hatred there. Chaim (Bloom) did a great job kind of talking and being upfront and honest and made the whole process smooth. It sucks, but that's part of it."
Betts added: "There was an offer that was put out there, and we just declined, and we felt, I just wanted to get my value, man. That's all. Just like any person that lives, they want to get their value, what they're worth. That's pretty much all that that it was. Just the numbers didn't align, which is normal. It's all normal things. We just had to go our separate ways. Just like anything else, there was a lot of talk where I didn't want to stay, or this, that, and the other. That's false. It's just business. It is what it is. There's nothing you can do about it now, though."
Betts reportedly turned down a $300-million extension offer from the Red Sox before being traded because he was seeking more than $400 million. He later agreed to a 12-year, $365-million pact with the Dodgers.
The Nashville native paid immediate dividends for the Dodgers, helping them win a World Series for the first time in 32 years. The five-time All-Star is also an early front-runner for the National League MVP this season.
It's the same kind of production he was famous for in Boston, where he won an MVP in 2018 and quickly became one of the franchise's most popular players.
Betts said not playing for Boston was tough at first, but he still has long-lasting relationships with people from the organization, including Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers, both of whom have been unable to commit to new contracts with the Red Sox.
"They have to do what's best for them," Betts said. "If they want to stay, stay. If they want to get their value, get their value. It just depends on who you are, what you want. Nobody can tell them what they want more than them. Nobody can explain what's best for them other than them. Those are all lifelong friendships that I'm going to have. Whatever happens, is going to happen."