Andrew Benintendi, Mookie Betts, and Jackie Bradley Jr., were the three outfielders that were loved and praised for their defensive plays during the 2018 World Series run with the Boston Red Sox.
Ever since winning the World Series during the 2018 season, the Boston Red Sox have yet to return to eliteness and have lost many key players from their winning 2018 team. Including, JBJ, Betts and Benintendi. So where are they now, the dynamic dancing outfielders the Red Sox once had?
Mookie Betts:
Playing right field for the Red Sox was all-star, Mookie Betts. Unfortunately, for Boston they were unable to sign their young star to an extension and opted moving him to LA Dodgers, along with starting pitcher David Price. In return, Boston received a package including Alex Verdugo, Connor Wong and Jeter Downs.
Alex Verdugo is the only piece Boston got in return that has made an impact so-far at the Major League level. Boston traded a young super star in Betts, in return for Verdugo, a fringe-player in Wong and a low-end prospect Jeter Downs.
So far with the Dodgers, Betts has excelled with his new team. This season, the outfielder is hitting .280, along with 32 home runs and 70 runs-batted-in.
Andrew Benintendi:
Benintendi was once rated as the #1 prospect in the entire MLB, but is now currently playing for Boston's divisional rivals, the New York Yankees. Why is the Benintendi trade looking like a disaster now? It is simple, the package Boston got in return does not equate to the potentially Benintendi had even after a rough season. Boston essentially gave up on the outfielder and moved on. In return from the Kansas City Royals, Boston received Franchy Cordero, Josh Winckowski and three PTBNL.
Cordero so far with Boston has yet to find a mainstay spot on the MLB roster. Cordero has been optioned up-and-down to the minors throughout this season. The Dominican outfielder is currently 28-years-old and has solid power, but struggles to make contact. Cordero has a .213 batting average with Boston, playing in 128 games for the team. While Winckowski and the three other players have yet to make any positive impacts at the MLB level.
What makes the trade look even worse, besides the poor return is that Benintendi has excelled playing for the Royals and now New York Yankees. This season starting with the Royals the outfielder made the 2022 All-Star team, after he hit .320 with 39 RBI's. The Royals opted to trade Benny Bombs at the deadline and the outfield has excelled ever since.
Jackie Bradley Jr.:
The once superstar defensive center fielder is currently playing for the Toronto Blue Jays, after being DFA'd during his second stint with the Boston Red Sox.
The former gold glove winner was shipped to Milwaukee, then shipped back to Boston this offseason. The defensive star struggled offensively for a poor Red Sox squad and was ultimately cut from the team. Bradley Jr., is currently serving as a defensive replacement for the Blue Jays.
To Conclude...
The three outfielders who received the most love and accolades for their defensive performances during the Boston Red Sox's 2018 World Series are now gone from the present-day Red Sox team.