Former Red Sox Fan-Favorite Makes Surprise Claim About Ex-Boston Star
An old friend will be back in town facing off against the Boston Red Sox this weekend.
Former Red Sox outfielder and 2018 American League Most Valuable Player Mookie Betts is set to face off against Boston at Fenway Park for the first time since being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Betts was dealt ahead of the 2020 campaign and there's still plenty of speculation of what could've happened if the Red Sox didn't go through with the move.
Would Betts have stayed in Boston long-term if he was offered the same deal as Los Angeles? Was he always leaving? There's no way to be sure -- especially a few years later -- but former Red Sox fan-favorite utility man Brock Holt claimed Betts didn't want to leave Boston in a conversation with WEEI's Rob Bradford on the "Baseball Isn't Boring" podcast.
"The former Red Sox not only played with Betts throughout all six seasons the All-Star outfielder called Boston home, but has always been one of Betts closest friends," Bradford said. "It's why when talking about the path that led his buddy from the Sox to the Dodgers, Holt knows of what he speaks. That much was clear when listening to Holt on the 'Baseball Isn't Boring' podcast.
"I asked him straight up, 'If the Red Sox offered you what the Dodgers offered you are you staying?' He was like, 'Right now?' I'm like, 'No, back then. Before you got traded.' He's like, 'Oh, I'm staying.' Mookie wanted to stay," Holt said. "He said it himself, 'I know people aren't going to believe me,' because he turned down X. He turned down this contract or the next one. But he wanted to stay. I truly believe if they would have offered market value for Mookie Betts he would have been a Red Sox for the rest of his career. I truly believe that."
Boston's trade of Betts to the Dodgers has been one of the most polarizing moments in the club's recent history. The 30-year-old has been one of the best players in baseball over the last decade and is having one of his best seasons this year. It certainly will be weird seeing Betts back at Fenway Park in a different jersey this weeke
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