Mookie Betts Calls Joining Dodgers ‘Best Thing That’s Ever Happened’ in His Life

Mookie Betts hasn’t forgotten about the team that gave him his start in Major League Baseball. In fact, he still watches Boston Red Sox games.

There are no hard feelings between Betts and the Red Sox despite people thinking there is. Betts cherished his time in Boston but in an appearance on the “All the Smoke” podcast, he called joining the Dodgers the “best thing that’s ever happened” in his life.

“People think I hate it. People think I didn’t want to be there and that was all a facade,” Betts said. “Like, it’s still business. Business is business. You have to be able to separate business from personal.

“Now, being personal and my personal relationship with Boston, as I said, I loved it, absolutely loved it. I still talk to front office people there and to AC (Cora). I loved it. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love where I’m at now. I love Dave Roberts, being a Dodger, and being a Dodger has probably been the best thing that’s ever happened to my life.”

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The Dodgers acquired Betts from the Red Sox in February 2020. He was entering his final year of team control and chose Los Angeles as home for the rest of his career. He signed a 12-year, $365 million extension with the Dodgers in July 2020.

“You cannot blend the two,” Betts said of separating his emotions with the business element when asked about his departure from Boston. “You just cannot do it. As bad as I want to, you can’t do it. Once you try to do it, that’s when not the best things happen.

“Not necessarily bad things, but not the most optimal, either. And for the best outcome for Mookie Betts and his family, I had to take care of business.”

Betts led the Dodgers to their first World Series title since 1988 in his first season with the team. He has also sacrificed himself for the betterment of the team, changing positions from right field to second base to shortstop.

The Nashville, Tenn., native is destined for the Hall of Fame. Since debuting in June 2014, Betts has gone on to win the 2018 American League MVP, six Gold Glove awards, and seven Silver Slugger awards. Once he does get there, it will be up to him to decide the logo on the front of his cap — but it’s hard to imagine it not being the L.A. logo.

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Photo Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images

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