For Boston Red Sox fans, the pain of the Mookie Betts trade is unlikely to ever truly disappear.
Back in February 2020, the Red Sox dealt Betts and lefty pitcher David Price to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for outfielder Alex Verdugo—then the Dodgers’ top prospect heading into his first full MLB season in 2019—along with infield prospect Jeter Downs (ranked No. 8) and catcher Connor Wong (No. 14).
Of that return, only Wong remains with the Red Sox. Verdugo appeared in 493 games over four seasons in Boston, hitting .283 with 43 home runs and 206 RBIs, before spending a year with the Yankees and recently signing with the Braves. Downs hit just .154 in 14 games for Boston in 2022, had a brief 6-game stint with the Nationals in 2023, and then departed for Japan to join the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
As for Betts, he’s since helped the Dodgers win two World Series titles, earned four Silver Slugger awards, and made every All-Star Game except in 2020 when the event was canceled. For Red Sox fans—especially those not around when Babe Ruth was infamously sold to the Yankees—this trade may go down as one of the franchise’s all-time worst.
Red Sox Fans Could Rue the Day Matthew Lugo Was Traded to LA
That said, it’s unlikely many will remember the trade made on July 30, 2024, with much fondness.
In an effort to bolster their bullpen, the Red Sox dealt infielder/outfielder Matthew Lugo (Boston’s No. 14 prospect in 2023), infielder Niko Kavadas (No. 20), and right-handers Ryan Zeferjahn and Yeferson Vargas to the Angels in exchange for veteran reliever Luis García.
The short-term outcome wasn’t encouraging. García, in his 12th big-league season, had put up a 3.71 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 43.2 innings for the Angels, but struggled mightily in Boston, surrendering 24 hits and 15 earned runs in just 15.1 innings before landing on the injured list in September with right elbow inflammation.
The long-term impact of the deal might not be much better. While Kavadas and Vargas remain in the Angels’ minor league system, Zeferjahn has already debuted in the majors and performed well—ironically becoming the kind of reliable reliever Boston had hoped it acquired, with a 3.35 ERA and 44 strikeouts over 35.0 innings.
Matthew Lugo Swinging Hot Bat Since Making MLB Debut on His Birthday
But it’s Matthew Lugo who might end up being the biggest sting in this trade.
Drafted by the Red Sox in the second round of the 2019 draft, Lugo made his MLB debut on May 9—his 24th birthday—and has made an immediate impact. In 11 games, he’s slashing .273/.294/.667 with a .961 OPS. He’s started games at all three outfield spots, and while his 13 strikeouts in 33 at-bats are a concern, he’s also tallied two doubles, three home runs, and six RBIs.
“We knew the kid could swing the bat,” said Angels manager Ron Washington. “That’s what we heard when we got him—that he could hit—and now he’s proving it.”
Meanwhile, García has since moved on, signing with the Dodgers in the offseason. Through 23 appearances and 21.2 innings, he’s posted a 4.57 ERA with 22 strikeouts.
“The way I see it, God has a purpose for everything,” García told a Dodgers analyst. “You always want to do well when you play, but it didn’t work out in Boston. I’ve just learned from it and brought those lessons into this season, trying to be better.”
