The Boston Red Sox may have traded away their superstar outfielder Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers a few seasons ago in an unpopular salary dump, but Red Sox fans made the slugger feel at home in his first game back at Fenway Park since the trade.
Betts received a lengthy ovation from fans at Fenway Park in his first game back Friday night as a member of the Dodgers, with Red Sox fans showering him with cheers as he stepped to the plate to lead off the first inning.
Betts was traded to the Dodgers in 2020. Betts had turned down a $300 million contract offer from the Red Sox before the trade a year prior to him being slated to arrive in free agency, but he ultimately signed a 12-year, $365 million extension with the Dodgers.
“I don’t really remember what I was feeling. I know I was kind of shaking a little bit,” Betts said, according to ESPN. “But I’m just thankful. Thankful I got the ovation. … Thankful we won.”
Prior to the game, MLB journalists asked Betts about the failed contract negotiations.
“I’ll let Chaim [Bloom, chief baseball officer] and those guys explain that or [owner] John Henry, whoever. I’ll let them explain it,” Betts responded. “If they ever want to explain it, I’ll let them explain it. We’re not even there so it doesn’t really even matter. We’re in L.A. and those things, they’re in the past. We probably just have to go ahead and leave it alone. But if someone was to explain it, I would let him do it.”
Betts says he holds no ill will towards the Red Sox.
“I think it slowly kind of went into the back of my mind,” Betts said. “Four years later, I’m happy to be here.
“It’s business. And both sides have got to take care of themselves. Sometimes it may not be in the best interest for both,” Betts said. “That’s not where we are now. We’re in an LA jersey. … I’m super happy where I’m at.”
“It’s just the way the cookie kind of crumbled. Priorities changed. Things changed. Players change. Nobody really keeps a team together forever, right?” Betts said. “We had our run.”
“I think all the circumstances allowed me to have closure a little easier. As far as wondering if I was going to be with the Red Sox, yeah, I thought that was going to be the case,” Betts said. “But it didn’t happen. And that’s OK. That’s part of life. So it’s OK. Turned out to kind of be a blessing. And, like I said, I’m super happy.”
