THE SOCIAL MEDIA FIREstorm: “20-20 HINDSIGHT”
BOSTON, MA—In the age of instant replays and viral regrets, some wounds simply refuse to scar over. On December 19, 2025, social media platforms from Boston to Los Angeles have ignited once again as the “Mookie Betts Trade” reaches a fever pitch of scrutiny.
The spark? The Los Angeles Dodgers just completed the first back-to-back World Series run since the 1998-2000 Yankees, with Mookie Betts turning the title-clinching double play in Game 7 against the Blue Jays. As Betts hoisted his fourth career World Series trophy (his third with L.A.), Red Sox Nation took to the digital streets to mourn what could have been.
THE DYNASTY VS. THE REBUILD
The contrast between the two franchises since the February 10, 2020, trade has become a statistical nightmare for the Boston front office.
- The Dodgers’ Haul: Since acquiring Betts, Los Angeles has won three World Series titles (2020, 2024, 2025) and has reached the postseason every single year. Betts has finished in the Top 5 of MVP voting three times as a Dodger and successfully transitioned from a Gold Glove outfielder to an elite infielder.
- The Boston Fallout: The Red Sox have finished in last place in the AL East three times in the five years since the trade. While they enjoyed a resurgent 89-win season in 2025, the “Betts Legacy” looms like a shadow over Fenway.
THE QUOTE THAT STUNG THE FENWAY FAITHFUL
During the 2025 World Series media day, Betts delivered a candid reality check that many Boston fans interpreted as a direct shot at Red Sox ownership:
“Anybody could have made that trade,” Betts said. “Everybody’s capable of doing the same thing. Everybody can spend money if they want to… we just chose to do it. We enjoy winning from the top to the bottom.”
BY THE NUMBERS: THE TRADE TRACKER (2020–2025)
The “fleecing” narrative has only grown as the players Boston received in exchange for a generational talent have moved on or underperformed.
| The Trade Piece | Current Status (Dec 2025) | The “Boston Verdict” |
| Mookie Betts | 4x World Series Champ | Future HOFer; likely to enter as a Dodger. |
| Alex Verdugo | NY Yankees (Free Agent) | Traded to rival Yankees; hit a career-low in ’24. |
| Jeter Downs | DFA’d (2022) | No longer in the organization. |
| Connor Wong | Starting Catcher | The “lone survivor”; a solid but not “elite” contributor. |
| Richard Fitts | Top Pitching Prospect | Acquired via Verdugo trade; the new “hope” for the deal. |
THE STAIN THAT WON’T ERASE
For Boston owner John Henry, the trade has become the defining moment of his tenure—a move widely seen as prioritizing “financial flexibility” over a homegrown icon. Even with the emergence of young stars like Roman Anthony and the extension of Rafael Devers, the baseball world remains obsessed with the “Two Destinies” that diverged in 2020.
As one prominent Boston sports radio host put it tonight: “We didn’t just trade a player; we traded a decade of dominance. Every time Mookie smiles in a Dodgers parade, a little bit of the Sox’s soul stays in the basement.”
