Fansided

5 biggest losers from the 2020 MLB offseason

By David Salituro

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 13: Alex Bregman #2 and Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros look on as owner Jim Crane reads a prepared statement during a press conference at FITTEAM Ballpark of The Palm Beaches on February 13, 2020 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 13: Alex Bregman #2 and Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros look on as owner Jim Crane reads a prepared statement during a press conference at FITTEAM Ballpark of The Palm Beaches on February 13, 2020 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 29: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox runs towards first after hitting a single against the Baltimore Orioles during the third inning at Fenway Park on September 29, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 29: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox runs towards first after hitting a single against the Baltimore Orioles during the third inning at Fenway Park on September 29, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Boston Red Sox

Two years removed from their fourth World Series title this century, the Boston Red Sox enter the 2020 season as a vastly different club.

Manager Alex Cora led that 2018 team to the championship in his first season on the Red Sox bench. But his once-promising managerial career came to a sudden and inglorious end after MLB’s report on the Astros sign-stealing scandal pointed directly at him for instigating the scheme while he was bench coach in Houston in 2017.

The Red Sox also find themselves involved in their own scandal, with the league’s report on the methods they used to steal signs in 2018 expected to be released by the end of the week. The club didn’t wait to see what punishment would be doled out to Cora; he was fired in January and replaced by Ron Roenicke.

But that’s not the only change facing the Red Sox. Also gone is their MVP right-fielder Mookie Betts. Facing another year of being over the luxury tax threshold, the Red Sox traded Betts and his $27 million contract to the Los Angeles Dodgers along with starting pitcher David Price.

The Red Sox still have a solid lineup that can compete for a playoff spot in the American League. Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers are manning the left side of their infield, while J.D. Martinez remains in the middle of their batting order. But Betts’ absence is one that will be sorely felt.

In his MVP campaign in 2018, Betts finished with a 1.078 OPS. Only Manny Ramirez, Ted Williams, and Jimmie Foxx had a better season in a Red Sox uniform in the Live Ball Era. His OPS of .991 over the last two seasons is third-best in baseball behind Mike Trout and Christian Yelich.

The Red Sox got back Alex Verdugo and Jeter Downs for Betts and Price. Both are promising prospects, but Verdugo has only 158 games of big-league experience while Downs has never played above Double-A. Neither is likely to replicate the success Betts had, and that complicates Boston’s efforts to keep pace with the New York Yankees in the AL East.

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