Mookie Betts was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of a salary dump. Going into the 2020 season, how does this affect the New York Yankees?
The trade of Mookie Betts to Los Angeles was not surprising at all and gives the Dodgers a much higher chance of winning the World Series. The Dodgers chances jump from 24% to a 29.2% chance of winning the Fall Classic.
For the Yankees, what does this trade mean?
First, it does not mean that the Red Sox got dramatically worse because of this trade. Did they get worse because of the trade? Absolutely. Is their record going to decline because of this trade? More than likely, yes. Does it mean that they are going to lose 15 or more games because of this trade? Probably not.
The Red Sox got rid of their best player, Mookie Betts, but they still have players that have the talent to succeed. Boston will still be a tough team to face and should not be taken lightly. The good news for the Yankees is that the series between these two teams never is taken lightly.
Second, Price will not be coming to Yankee Stadium during the regular season anymore. In his tenure with the Red Sox dating back to 2016, Price was 1-7 with a staggering 9.61 ERA in eight starts. It almost seemed like a sure win if Price was on the mound at Yankee Stadium.
Lastly, the competition for the AL East crown is much simpler. The Yankees and Rays will be the clear frontrunners to top the division, and Boston may be competing with Toronto for third place.
The trade may represent a domino effect for the Red Sox. With the third worst farm system in all of baseball (before the trade), it may end up being a long rebuild for the fans of Boston.