"As quiet as it's kept, I enjoy watching Red Sox games" - Mookie Betts reveals single reason he keeps up with Boston

After six seasons with the Boston Red Sox to begin his career, the club traded Mookie Betts to the LA Dodgers in February 2020. The shockwaves from that trade seem to still affect the Red Sox today.

Despite that, Betts, to this day, enjoys watching games of his former club, as he revealed during his Thursday appearance on the "All the Smoke" podcast with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson.

"As quiet as it's kept, I enjoy watching Red Sox games," Betts said (34:25 onwards). Because of Cora. I love Alex Cora, and I enjoy watching Red Sox games."

Betts also addressed misconceptions about his departure from the Red Sox in 2020.

"People think I hate it, people think I didn’t want to be there — that was all a facade," Betts said. "It’s still business. Business is business; you have to be able to separate business from personal. Now, on a personal level, my relationship with Boston? I loved it. Absolutely loved it."

"I still talk to office people there. And like I said, AC, man, I love him. Don’t get me wrong—I absolutely love where I’m at now. I love D-Rob (Dave Roberts). I love being a Dodger. Being a Dodger has probably been the best thing that’s ever happened in my life. But I absolutely love Boston."

Why Mookie Betts moved away from the Red Sox

With the Red Sox entering their transition phase, the franchise might have pulled the plug on Mookie Betts to acquire star prospects in exchange when they traded their perennial star in 2020.

The Dodgers sent Alex Verdugo, Connor Wong and Jeter Downs in exchange for Betts, David Price and cash considerations in that trade. Soon after, the Dodgers capitalized on Betts' presence, signing him to a contract extension worth $365 million over 12 years.

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Despite that, Red Sox fans were skeptical of Betts possibly wanting out of the franchise. On the "All the Smoke" podcast, Betts said his decision has always centered on securing the best outcome for himself and his family.

"It’s just business, man. Business is business. You cannot blend the two — you just cannot do it," Betts said (34:50 onwards). "As much as I want to, you can’t."

"Once you try to do it, that’s when things don’t turn out for the best—not necessarily bad things, but not the most optimal outcomes either. And for the best outcome for Mookie Betts and his family, I had to take care of us."

Read more about Mookie Betts here.