The Braves announced Wednesday that they’ve shut banged up outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. down for the rest of the regular season. Hip tightness and a left groin strain have troubled Acuna of late, but the NL East-winning Braves expect the superstar to be fine by the time the NLDS begins next week. The Braves, who are locked into the NL’s No. 2 seed, don’t have anything of substance to play for over the final few days of the season. However, it’s still a shame for the 21-year-old Acuna that he won’t have an opportunity at a 40-40 campaign. Acuna’s outstanding regular season will end with 41 home runs, 37 steals, a .280/.365/.518 line and 5.5 fWAR over 715 plate appearances.
Moving over to the AL East…
- Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts has made it known that he plans to become a free agent after 2020, his final season of arbitration control. The 2018 AL MVP told Rob Bradford of WEEI that he’s taking a business-minded approach instead of one driven by emotions because of his upbringing. “Fans and media get caught up in emotions and that’s just not how I was raised and that’s just not what my point of view with my agents is,” said Betts. “We take emotions out of it and we focus on the business part. Of course, I love it here. This is all I know. But you also have to take that emotional side out of it and get to what is actually real.” Betts further explained to Bradford that a business-first mindset has steered him right in the past, specifically when he signed with the Red Sox as a fifth-round pick in 2011 and when he brushed off a possible contract extension before the 2017 season in order to reach arbitration during the ensuing winter.
- Utility player Brock Holt, one of Betts’ Red Sox teammates, may be in his final days with the club. The pending free agent told Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald that he has loved playing for the Red Sox, who acquired him back in 2013. At the same time, though, he finds the idea of a potential trip to free agency “exciting.” That’s understandable coming from Holt, who boasts a respectable track record of production. Injuries have limited him to 83 games this season, but the 31-year-old has batted a solid .303/.379/.414 during that 280-PA span.
- Although he hasn’t played since Aug. 3, injured Yankees center fielder Aaron Hicks continues to hold out hope that he’ll be able to return during the postseason, George A. King III of the New York Post reports. Hicks, who’s dealing with a right flexor tendon issue, has begun to throw from 120 feet. He hasn’t progressed to throwing to bases, though, and there won’t be any chance of a comeback until that happens.
Mookie needs to be traded now, after postseason. I will cry if they let Brockstar leave, I love him in Boston. I hope the Redsox are able to pull off a good trade for Mookie, who, I admire his honesty, but it really makes me sad he hadta go, also. Now Rick Porcello……I wish he would straighten out n the Redsox give him a short term contract. I think Pandas money is coming off the books, maybe, I’ll be sad when he leaves.
Whose Brock star? Brock holt, cause he’s terrible
Go away Yankee troll. Your team cannot beat the Rays.
2019 Yankees have the best record ever against AL East foes, just sayin’…
Meanwhile, I like Brock Holt. He was a throw in on a Pirates deal. He was your Urshela for several years…
Except for the Blue Jays whom have come back against the Yankees to a tune of 5 times this season!
@jaysfan
Want a cookie? Your team still sucks
It’s cool that this site let’s 10 year olds post here.
Sad? How old are you?
Sorry Pash…the money going off the books from Panda are going into John Henry’s pocket. That’s why Trader Dave is gone. The days of spending freely are over.
Sorry to break your all’s bubble, Panda is still owed an option year salary of 5 mill so we’re not finished yet. As far as Mookie money, I remember an early 70s move by a number of ex Sox players for the all mighty dollar, and Fred Lynn notable has often said his leaving was a terrible mistake… good luck to all
Yeah trade Mookie one of the best five players in the game but make sure to keep Brock Holt. Red Sox fans are delusional. Boston makes money by the boat load but can’t afford to keep a five tool player. Oh and what’s the going rate for a guy who’s clearly not going to sign an extension in favor of testing the market? So you want to trade Mookie at a discount as well? What happens with Martinez once you trade Mookie? I’ll tell you what it’s exit stage left for him also. That team is gonna be brutal next year.
Well hopefully Martínez opts out and they let him walk…unfortunately because of these contracts DD has signed they are in a bind. I don’t think they should trade Millie unless they are getting top notch prospects…..10 year deals rarely work out for the team
I think trading Mookie is the worst move this team can possibly make. Teams with the resources that Boston has should never be in a spot where they can’t afford to keep their young homegrown five tool star. That’s an embarrassment. You have to wonder what they can get from a team knowing he’s gone after the season. If Boston is in that bad of a spot that’s fine but for Sox fans to make comments like Mookie is selfish or his ego is out of control is plain idiotic. But that’s New England for you they love nothing more than kicking guys on their way out the door, just ask Terry Francona.
Every team has a budget and Boston has made mistakes. Signing Price was right at the time. Had they not signed Sale, there would be no short term decision. I disagree however with having to get every last dollar when you already have banked so much. The Sox have other big money players and if JDM doesn’t opt out, how do they reset the tax? Even big market clubs have limits. The Yankees may have gotten lucky in that they are winning while Sanchez and Judge have shown thorns in their game. Two years ago everyone was talking about those future contracts and how they will impact the team.
Not a question of can’t afford. Sounds like Mookie’s gonna walk regardless.
Porcello on 2/16 would work for me! Plus it would be his every other year strong season next year and he never misses a start!
Mookie over/under. 10 years $300 Million. ?
Over. Too me he is better than Manny and Bryce.
Agreed. But in reality how many teams do you think are bidding on him? Seems like Harper and machado were more hyped going into FA.
Several teams will. White Sox for sure need to. Put him in the outfield with Eloy Jimenez in LF and Luis Robert in CF.
Under because of his ego
Here we go Red Sox fans have to try their best to make Mookie out to be a bad guy for trying to get paid. It’s okay for Sale to get that huge deal with his track record of disappearing when August comes around but Mookie has no right to try to get paid? You sir are a typical Red Sox fan. Keep telling yourself that the right move is to trade your best player away and I’ll continue to laugh at you. Any other big market team would sign that kid no matter what it takes but nope not Boston they’ll trade him at a discount and use the money saved to make sure the guy on the IL every last quarter of the season can get his money.
Mystery team..do you always leave three long comments that say the exact same thing?
Mystery Team – Mookie Betts is one of the top 5-10 baseball players right now and has every right to get paid. Signing an extension with a player is a two way street. The player has to be at the table to negotiate. From all indications, I don’t think Mookie is going to sign even if they offer up Mike Trout money and he’s going to free agency period. That’s a risk for any team. You never know when a team out of nowhere makes a stupid move and outbid everyone like Tom Ricks did with A-Rod when he signed with the Texas Rangers. It’s too much of a gamble to only walk away with draft pick compensation. I would offer up more than what Bryce and Manny got last year and see if he signs. If not, the team has to trade him and get what they can, which still should be considerable. Who knows, maybe they will get lucky and get a haul of prospects and re-sign him back like the Yankees did with Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs a few years ago.
Everytime you say “red Sox fans…” I know you’re about to spit some bs
Go away troll
Lol! So true!
He likely already had his career year. He’s been playing in a favorable hitter’s park. He has a great lineup around him. Great player, obviously, but who’s going to pay him 300?
Dodgers, Yankees, Astros, Braves, etc.
Imagine Mookie on the Angels in right field next to Mike Trout. Or on the Braves in right field next to Acuna Jr.
Imagine in Fantasy baseball DL because no team can afford the combination of contracts or they will have no infield and no bullpen
Braves have no need for him and won’t spend that high
Astros don’t need him.
Agree, although I can see the Braves possibly trading for Mookie if the cost is not too high in the offseason.
Braves are not paying him $300 million
Nor should they
Much rather Donaldson for 2 for $65 with an option for a 3rd year at $20 million or a $10 million buyout
Under
More like 10 years $380-$400 million.
2021 Red Sox = 2018-19 Orioles
Ok this is insane. Unlike the Orioles, the Red Sox ownership is willing to spend (and has the money to spend). They can also afford mistake contracts much better than the O’s. Also unlike the Orioles, Boston has multiple young players who are under team control for several more years. Also, despite the Sox difficulties in drafting and developing a farm under Dombrowski, they have had an analytics team in place for years and a much better track record of drafting. Most importantly, the Orioles downfall came because they literally never even bothered to scout international players – they traded their intl bonus money for minor league players year after year because Peter Angelos wouldn’t allow them to do anything with it. The Red Sox have a solid core in Devers Bogaerts Benintendi & Vasquez locked up for several more years.
Didn’t read your essay. Point is the 2021 Red Sox will probably finish at least 20 games back like they did this year and like the 2018-2019 Orioles did. Sad
The Orioles were more like 50 games back. Boston has already recently proven the ability to bounce back quickly from a much worse season than this.
I love the negativity of so many posters regarding Boston’s future. Only four championships since Henry took ownership. The team will compete again. It was just last year that the team won it all. No one expected the collapse of 2019 but everyone knew a reverse was coming due to free agency. Signing Bogaerts was a great move. We’re holding our breath though with Sale.
Funny comment by beisbolista…Sox are having a bad year yet are 83-75…..they would need a colossal tear down to even come close to being as bad as the Orioles have been these last few years
Agree dewey the Red Sox have a solid core. With the ownership that is in place the comment by beisbolista makes no sense. If anything the Red Sox will reset the lux tax, maybe even in 2020, then reload for 2021. Wishful Yankee fan comment speaking cmon beis be better then that.
“Didn’t read your essay”. Wow, classic. That is the equivalent of an AOC clap-back. I’m sorry if you expected anyone to read anything you typed after that intro…
Add Rodriguez to that solid core and I agree.
Far from
Exactly. Cellar days ahead for the Sox.
Yeah and then a WS a year or two after
Exactly!
“Exactly. Cellar days ahead for the Sox.” Hahahaa. You’re a bad troll.
dont forget the 200 plus K’s that he would have acquired had he played in the final three games.
apparently the strikeout isn’t something that’s really cared about too much. Not like it was in the more than recentpast
The strikeout isn’t something that’s really cared about too much. Not like it was in the more than recent past anyway. It’s quite possible his pursuit of 40/40 had something to do with his strikeout numbers. And he could have been playing through the groin situation effecting his rate of Ks on fastballs. Your statement is true and if he were still playing out the final games of regular season, then yes he may have reached 200 strikeouts.
I am glad to see that you haven’t lost your Flair for the negative. your passive-aggressive note to the writer’s mistake is quite impressive. I’m sure he will take it in to consideration. Well done 200+KsPseudo LudaCriticism. When does your next album drop?
I’d love to see you do 1/200th of what he has there hot stuff. Come on internet bad ass. You show us how it’s done.
Interesting of Mookie to take the “I was raised to have no emotions and always treat baseball as a business” line. Good on him to admit he only cares about the money. He’s *only* made 30+ million as a 26 year old. 30 million just isn’t what it used to be.
Why is it only the owners and management are allowed to treat the sport like a business?
Because they have to deal with the actual business of things. Players are called players because they play for a living. Players don’t even have to deal with any of the business side if they don’t want to. That’s why they have agents.
Well that’s just silly. By that ‘logic’ none of the organization’s staff have to treat it like a business if they don’t want to because they have an accountant. To say someone can just ignore their own business because someone else is ‘looking after it’ is nonsense (and any who do are very bad at business).
Yup and those agents try to get the most money for their players don’t kid yourself it’s business for the players too. It’s there job you can’t fault Mookie for going after every dollar he can get now.
Agents they pay
Fact of the matter it is a business
Whatever line of work you are in I am sure you want to make a salary conducive to what the company makes off of your back
Why are athletes any different
You do know these kids make less than $2000 a month while in the minors and only get paid the months they play. The owners aren’t cutting them a break and paying them more to help them out so why should athletes be expected to take discounts when its time for them to be compensated for the talent they worked on their whole life ???
Hey A-What, players are not allowed to maximize their earnings in a very short window career?
Are you nuts? I’d rather have Mookie be transparent than Robinson Cano who when he soaked the Mariners told the cameras with his sad puppy eyes that he signed in Seattle “because the Yankees disrespected him”.
No he’s a washed up old man and another team became the more stupid recipient by trading for him, his baggage and his high fare.
Management is in a different boat. Their sole goal is make to owner happy(which is impossible).
GM: We’ve got a good team here. If add a piece here and upgrade there, our projections have us winning the division and having a good shot at a title.
Owner: Will it cost me money?
GM: Yes, but playoff revenue would like exceed….
Owner: DON’T YOU SEE TEH IMAGINARY LINE I/MLB SET?
GM: We’ve got a good young core and help on the way from the farm. We should be contending in 2 years.
Owner: Ticket sales and TV ratings are down. We need to sign a star free agent like Player X.
GM: But Player X isn’t that great and will be in decline when we are contending. Plus our top prospect plays that position and he’ll be ready next season.
Owner: I said BIG NAME FREE AGENT.
GM: But….
Owner: Fine, I’ll sign Player X myself.
****2 years later****
Owner: WHY DO WE HAVE THIS ALBATROSS CONTRACT?
Owner: I need a WS Ring and I need it now.
GM: We’ll we are trying to develop a sustainable model, so…
Owner: What part of NOW do you not understand?***throws checkbook at GM***
GM: Ok, but we’ll need to sign some free agents and make some trade that might not look too good in the future
Owner: As long as I get my ring…
****Team wins World Series***
Owner: WHY IS PAYROLL SO HIGH? WHY IS OUR FARM SYSTEM SO BAD?
It’s better than the usual BS these free agents spout about the city, love of the game, family, etc.
He never said he treats baseball as a business. When it comes to the business side of baseball (contracts, free agency) he treats that like a business and leaves the emotion out of it. He has said multiple times when it comes to playing baseball in the city of Boston that he absolutely loves it.
And how much as ownership made off him
Go into your job tomorrow and demand your boss to decrease your salary by 5%
People need to stop holding these players up to their miserable lives. These guys got talent and should be compensated for it.
I am sure the owners didn’t run into Mookie’s minor league dugout all those years he was making peanuts down there or in his first couple years they didn’t willingly up his salary to what it was worth market value wise
So why get on him now when he is ready to get paid.
Everybody out there that is good at their job wants to be compensated for it so why shouldn’t he ???
Sports are entertainment dollars they are not everyday paycheck dollars that we make.
Stop comparing them to us working class people and compare them to actors, musicians, artists etc.
Rest be needed young grasshopper…. may the force be with you come next week
“get to what is actually real.”
I get wanting to become a free agent and maximize your earning. But at least with my definition of “emotions”, Mookie needs to get his slow down and think about what really matters in life.
One would think the advantage of extreme wealth is that it would give you the ability to prioritize your emotions. It allows you to seek pleasure and fulfillment with complete security and resources.
He is 26 and going to be making a decision that will directly impact the next 10 year or so of his life(while possibly effecting it long after) I hope spends less time with his agent and perhaps some time with a therapist(or at least his family) reflecting on his emotions and what will bring him happiness.
When you are 80-years old you aren’t thinking “I’m so glad I took $310M from the Miami Marlins rather than creating a legacy on that team that offered $300M.
I think Betts is gone. He is sounding like Ellsbury and Papelbon. If he looked at the results for players who have left the Red Sox, he would think twice about leaving. How’s Kimbrel doing? Honestly, if you want to make a smart business decision that is not based strictly on money, you stay with the Red Sox. Prior experience tells you that. Of course each new player thinks it won’t happen to them. Fisk turned out all right. There are others. But he should stay.
He’s going to take the bigger contract from another team. Bigger than what the Red Sox will offer. But that won’t even come into play because the Red Sox will trade him this winter and he’ll be a free agent next winter.
They won’t get very much for him in a trade. I think it depends on what happens with some other players like JD and Porcello, plus injury rehabs with Sale and Price, before they can decide on what holes they need to fill.
I think you will be surprised what Mookie brings in a trade.
Mookie will bring in a boatload so stop trolling! He’s only 26 and a former MVP and 5 Tool Player!
You get Betts for 1 year. His determination to hit the open market hurts the Sox because whoever brings him in knows without doubt that he isnt signing an extension. I think they will get something around twice the package the Dodgers paid to get Machado in 2018.
Jason bay says hi
hicks can’t play until he can throw to a base? That’s suspicious.
How? He has an average to slightly above average bat, but his real value long term is his ability to run down searing dropping fly balls and then throw runners out or stop the offensive push by throwing in to the cut off man.
I get the sense he’s one of the last candidates on the Yankees to occupy the DH spot, given the glut of power hitters that currently rotate through there.
I mean, honestly? Hicks and Stanton could become tandem albatross if the injuries keep coming. Maybe they kept Stanton out all season to avoid constant nagging re-injury, but Hicks has a long injury history even after getting fully healed. His personality comes off as a bit frustrated in interviews. I’m sure he wishes he was more consistent.
That 7 years/$70M was a highly calculated business decision for the Yankees and career decision for Hicks, in part because of his injury history limiting his playing time even when as productive as can be if not on the IL. They won’t fill the DH role with a $10M legacy player that doesn’t have a legacy yet.
Just stand 120 feet away from the base for gosh sakes. Then you can throw to the base. Honestly, it’s not that complicated.
If Mookie is going to take a business mindset then the Red Sox should too. Trade him in the offseason and reload the farm. Then, offer him a contract when he becomes a free agent if he wants to return. There is no reason you can’t get both if he wants to play there.
He will not reload the farm by himself. Teams are more stingy then ever with their talent and they will get him for 1 year.
wow did not realize Betts is only 26. hes getting paid once hes a f.a
If Betts doesn’t want an extension, even at $300 million for 10 years, then it’s time to send him packing. Red Sox can’t keep adding more expensive players to the payroll. They just can’t.