The 2020 trade that sent Mookie Betts from the hallowed halls of Fenway Park to the sun-kissed shores of Los Angeles continues to be a wound that refuses to heal for Boston Red Sox fans. It wasn’t just the sight of their beloved star donning Dodger blue; it was the sinking realization that they might have let a future legend slip through their fingers. Now, as Betts effortlessly shifts back to his former second base position, the Red Sox are getting a painful reminder of just how versatile and valuable he truly is.

The Red Sox’ reluctance to commit long-term to Betts, understandable considering the potential cost of $300 million, now looks like a colossal misjudgment. Betts has been blossoming beautifully with the Los Angeles Dodgers (who acquired him for a massive $365 million for a decade and two years), consistently mashing 30-plus home runs and adding Gold Glove-caliber defense to his repertoire. He’s already ranked high on MLB Network’s list of top second basemen, despite not regularly playing the position for years, speaking to his raw talent.

Meanwhile, a mishmash of mediocre options at second plagues Boston. Their infield prospects might show promise, but Mookie Betts was a known, elite-level commodity. If he’d stayed, they wouldn’t have needed to fret about their notoriously shaky defense. But more than just his skills, what the Red Sox lost in Betts was his infectious personality and unwavering drive to be extraordinary. “I want to be a legend in the game,” as Betts himself declared.

BoSox Injection, a prominent voice for the team’s fanbase, puts it bluntly: “Red Sox Nation knew the Betts trade was bad from the jump, but there was no way to know the full extent of what they would be missing out on. It turns out it’s worse than we thought.” Their hindsight may be 20/20, but Boston’s front office certainly could have used better prescription glasses when evaluating Betts’ potential worth.

Read More: Mookie Betts Reveals Burning Desire, Dodgers Star Targets “Legend” Status

The Betts debacle is a masterclass in how not to handle a generational talent. While he thrives in Los Angeles, Red Sox fans wonder about several levels of ‘what ifs,’—their angst only amplified by the team’s continued struggles. And if that wasn’t enough, a certain two-way Japanese star and his countryman on the mound might just be giving Boston fans further fits in Spring Training.

The Dodgers’ Embarrassment of Riches Other Than Mookie Betts

Speaking of superstars, whispers from Dodgers camp suggest Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto are looking sharp as ever, potentially giving the Red Sox even more cause for envy as the season approaches. While Ohtani’s return to his two-way superstar form is still a season away, a recently surfaced video of him practicing his pitching motion reveals a hunger that should terrify opposing hitters.

As FanNation notes, “The lefty slugger and righty ace have already suffered from two Tommy John surgeries. His latest one came in September 2023. Nonetheless, he seems eager to return to being the dominant ace we’ve witnessed his entire career.”

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Meanwhile, Yamamoto’s sparkling Dodgers Spring Training debut suggests that any concerns about tipping pitches may be overblown. If his elite command translates as expected, he could be a dark-horse Cy Young contender. Betsided seems to agree, stating, “Yamamoto is a steal at this number playing in Los Angeles for a team that could win more than 100 games.”

Read More: Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Mookie Betts to Break 58-Year Deadlock? Los Angeles Dodgers’ Star Trio Eye History

With their existing stars like Mookie Betts already a painful reminder, the looming return of Ohtani and Yamamoto’s potential rise to dominance might leave the Red Sox wondering why they couldn’t find a way to build around generational talents. The Dodgers, a juggernaut in the making, may leave other teams watching in awe—and maybe in regret—as these two Japanese stars blossom in Los Angeles.