Red Sox chairman derides Dodgers' lack of WS wins following Betts extension
Boston Red Sox chairman Tom Werner isn't a fan of the 12-year, $365-million contract extension that the Los Angeles Dodgers recently gave to outfielder Mookie Betts.
Werner questioned the Dodgers' decision-making and made sure to take a jab at the organization for its inability to win a World Series in recent years.
"When people are partying in Los Angeles, I just want to remind Los Angeles ... that in the last 20 years, Los Angeles has won zero World Series and the Red Sox have won four," Werner said while discussing the Betts trade on WEEI's "Ordway, Merloni, and Fauria" on Friday. "So I've got nothing to be complaining about regarding our past, and we think we made the right decision at the time."
Werner added the Red Sox tried numerous times to make a deal work with Betts, but the outfielder said he wanted to test free agency.
The Red Sox reportedly offered Betts a $300-million contract extension. The Dodgers ultimately topped that offer, which Werner believes will come back to bite them in the end.
"It’s always difficult to trade a talented player of Mookie's caliber, but let’s revisit this conversation in 12 years," Werner said. "That's a very, very long-term deal for a team to swallow.
"You guys know as well as I do that the history of long-term deals is checkered at best. We made what we thought was a generous offer, but for us, it's time to turn the page."
Betts and pitcher David Price were traded in February for Alex Verdugo, Jeter Downs, and Connor Wong.