The Boston Red Sox offloaded a superstar player and it seemed to help the team rise in the standings this season, but that hasn’t always been the outcome.

The team managed some addition by subtraction after it sent Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants in a surprising trade. However, at first the move was criticized because it was concerningly similar to the franchise’s decision to offload Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers, which was a major loss in retrospect.

Since Betts has joined the Dodgers, he’s been one of the most successful players in the sport. He has earned four All-Star nods, two Gold Glove Awards, four Silver Slugger Awards and two World Series championships in Los Angeles so far. And on Monday, shortly before his latest World Series game with the Dodgers, Betts was handed the Roberto Clemente Award for his commitment to community service.

“Betts and his wife, Brianna, founded the 5050 Foundation in 2021,” Peter Abraham wrote for The Boston Globe. “They work helping children with emotional and physical issues. They’ve also continued to support the homeless, and most recently victims of the fires in Los Angeles earlier this year.”

With Betts now recognized for his philanthropic work in addition to all he does on the field, Red Sox fans were reminded of all that they lost when their favorite team decided to trade him away rather than meet his looming contract demands in free agency. And the team’s skipper, Alex Cora, took the opportunity to reach out to the former Red Sox superstar.

“Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who grew up hearing stories about Clemente’s legacy from his father, texted Betts to congratulate him,” per Abraham. “‘He told me I’m a ’Rican now,’ Betts said, laughing.”

Cora might feel like he can joke with Betts in celebration of his latest accomplishment, but for many Red Sox fans, it’s not quite a laughing matter.

“It’s a painful reminder to Red Sox fans of the foolish trade that sent their guy to Los Angeles,” Abraham wrote. “Even six years later, it’s hard to understand the Sox didn’t realize they were making a franchise-altering mistake.”

As Betts and the Dodgers look to secure their second straight World Series championship, the Red Sox are left to retool this winter and continue their search for a franchise player who can have the same kind of impact that their former star is now having on and off the field for his new team.

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