New York Yankees: Aaron Boone speaks on Mookie Betts trade

New York Yankees, Aaron Boone
Oct 17, 2019; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone (17) answers questions from media during a press conference before game four of the 2019 ALCS playoff baseball series against the Houston Astros at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Red Sox just traded away two of their major pieces to their 2018 Championship year, Mookie Betts and David Price, to the Los Angeles Dodgers. To the New York Yankees, this is good and bad. The good is that they won’t have to see Betts at the plate as many times this season. The bad is the Los Angeles Dodgers just got a huge addition to their already-talented lineup, which the Yankees could see in the World Series.

Manager Aaron Boone spoke to reporters at the Yankees’ training facility in Tampa and had this to say on recent blockbuster trade:

“Obviously, he’s about as good as it gets. (I) Won’t miss facing him 18 times a year. That’s for sure. But they’re a smart organization with a lot of wherewithal. I’m sure they’re doing what they think’s best to get them on solid footing. So, not entirely upset to see Mookie in the other league. I always said, careful what you wish for. We’re such a long ways away. It’s such a long season. Our job is to get ready to go win a championship.”

I have mixed feelings about this trade. As a die-hard Yankees fan, it’s good to know that Mookie Betts is no longer in the AL East. However, the Los Angeles Dodgers are even more of contenders to go to the World Series and the addition of Mookie Betts to their lineup is nothing small. Part of me thinks that if he had just stayed on the Red Sox, it would have been better because they were going to be bad regardless.

I do think the New York Yankees still have a better lineup and pitching rotation than the Dodgers even with the additions of Betts and Price. If you match up the Yankees lineup with the Dodger lineup, you’d be surprised to see how many positions the Yankees win. The rotations are hard to tell, but the Yankees definitely have the better bullpen.