{"numbering":"asc","slides":[{"index":1,"title":"","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/02/05/spark_betts_biggest_trades.jpg","caption":"

It's official. Mookie Betts is now a former member of the Red Sox after reportedly getting traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

After not being able to work out a long-term contract extension for the four-time All-Star and 2018 MVP, the Sox decided to get something for Betts before he bolted in free agency at the end of the season.

And while Boston has seen its share of trades for star athletes, Betts joins a not-that-exclusive club of stars who were traded out of Boston.

Here are some of the biggest trades that saw fan favorites, MVPs, and Hall of Famers sent packing.

"},{"index":3,"title":"1919: Red Sox trade Babe Ruth ","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/02/05/babe_ruth.jpg","caption":"

Details: Red Sox trade Ruth's rights to Yankees, receive $100,000

There's no better place to start a look at the biggest superstars traded away from Boston than one of the most regrettable trades in sports history. In six seasons with Ruth, the Red Sox won three World Series, while Ruth went 89-46 with a 2.19 ERA on the mound and led the league with 29 home runs in his final season of 1919. Financially strapped owner Harry Frazee still shipped Ruth to New York, and we all know what happened next: 659 more home runs for Ruth and the birth of the Yankees dynasty while the Sox didn't win another title until 2004.

Was it a good trade? In a word, no.

"},{"index":5,"title":"1975: Bruins trade Phil Esposito ","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/02/05/esposito.jpg","caption":"

Details: Bruins trade Esposito and Carol Vadnais to the Rangers for Brad Park, Jean Ratelle, and Joe Zanussi

After being dealt to Boston in a 1967 blockbuster, Esposito became a star, becoming the first player in league history to crack the 100-point plateau (which he did six times in eight seasons), leading the league in goals in six straight seasons, winning the Hart Trophy twice, and helping the B's to a pair of Stanley Cups. Traded away at age 33, Esposito was stunned, later saying "It took me probably a year to accept that I wasn't part of the Boston Bruins anymore."

Was it a good trade? This one worked out for the Bruins, who saw Bobby Orr play his final game later that month. Park stepped right in on defense while Ratelle scored 70+ points in five straight seasons after the deal.

"},{"index":7,"title":"1981: Red Sox trade Fred Lynn","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/02/05/fred_lynn_red_sox.jpg","caption":"

Details: Red Sox trade Lynn and Steve Renko to the Angels for Frank Tanana, Jim Dorsey, and Joe Rudi

Lynn arrived in Boston with a bang, racking up Gold Glove, Rookie of the Year and MVP honors in 1975. And oh yeah, he also helped the Sox to the pennant. Lynn was an All-Star in each of his six seasons in Boston, winning the batting title in 1979. But ownership believed Lynn wanted to hit free agency and decided to get something in return for him.

Was it a good trade? Absolutely not. Even though Lynn (who was a career .347 hitter at Fenway Park) never hit .300 again, Boston's haul for Lynn was a total bust. Tanana went 4-10 in one season, Rudi hit .180 in 49 games, and Dorsey gave up 15 runs in eight innings for a 16.88 ERA.

"},{"index":9,"title":"1985: Celtics trade Cedric Maxwell","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/02/05/cedric_maxwell_1984.jpg","caption":"

Details: Celtics trade Maxwell and a first-round draft pick to the Clippers for Bill Walton

Cedric Maxwell spent the first eight seasons of his career in Boston, winning the NBA Finals MVP award in 1981, but when Bill Walton was looking to play for a winning team in 1985, the C's pulled the trigger on a deal despite Walton's lengthy injury history.

Was it a good trade? Definitely. While Walton only played one full season in Boston, he was the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year in the 1985-86 season as the C's steamrolled their way to a 67-15 record and the NBA title. Maxwell eventually saw his No. 31 raised to the rafters and he's been part of the team's radio broadcast for almost 20 years.

"},{"index":11,"title":"2000: Bruins trade Ray Bourque ","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/02/05/ray_bourque_bruins.jpg","caption":"

Details: Bruins trade Bourque and Dave Andreychuk to the Avalanche for Brian Rolston, Martin Grenier, Samuel Påhlsson and a first-round draft pick

Ray Bourque went to 18 All-Star Games in 20-plus seasons with the Bruins, winning the Calder Trophy, five Norris Trophies, and a grand total of zero Stanley Cups along the way. So when he asked for a trade and a chance to win that elusive Cup, the B's acquiesced, sending him to Colorado. The Avs made the Western Conference Final in his first season and won the Cup in 2001, giving Bourque his first title after over 1,600 regular season games.

Was it a good trade? Without a doubt. The 2000 Bruins were going nowhere, and Boston fans were so happy to see Bourque win a championship that thousands of fans attended a Boston rally celebrating their longtime captain.

"},{"index":13,"title":"2002: Patriots trade Drew Bledsoe","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/02/05/drew_bledsoe_patriots.jpg","caption":"

Details: Patriots trade Bledsoe to Bills for a first-round pick in the 2002 NFL Draft

"We all knew what the situation was: A football team can have only one starting quarterback." That's what Bill Belichick said when the Patriots sent Bledsoe to Buffalo on Draft Day in 2002. And after Mo Lewis knocked Bledsoe out of Week 2 of the 2001 season, that quarterback was Tom Brady, not the franchise's all-time leader in completions, attempts, and yards.

Was it a good trade? The deal worked for the Bills in the short term as Bledsoe made the Pro Bowl in 2002. That first-round pick turned into Ty Warren, a constant presence on the Pats' defensive line for seven seasons.

And that guy who replaced Bledsoe ended up being pretty good. A good trade? No doubt about it.

"},{"index":15,"title":"2003: Celtics trade Antoine Walker ","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/02/05/celtics-antoine-walker-072515.jpg","caption":"

Details: Celtics trade Walker and Tony Delk to the Mavericks for Raef LaFrentz, Jiri Welsch, and Chris Mills

Walker was a three-time All-Star who averaged almost 21 points per game during seven seasons of his first stint with the Celtics, but Danny Ainge shipped him out of town just five months after joining the C's front office. Ainge was heavily criticized for the move thanks to Walker's popularity and the fact that the C's had been on the upswing with trips to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2002 and Semifinals in 2003.

Was it a good trade? Meh. LaFrentz and Welsch didn't do much at all for the C's while Mills never played a game in Boston. The C's didn't win a playoff series for the next four seasons until Ainge acquired Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in 2007.

"},{"index":17,"title":"2004: Red Sox trade Nomar Garciaparra ","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/02/05/nomar_garciaparra_red_sox.jpg","caption":"

Details: Red Sox trade Garciaparra to the Cubs in a four-team deal, acquiring Orlando Cabrera from the Expos and Doug Mientkiewicz from the Twins

Garciaparra was a fan favorite with the Sox, winning the Rookie of the Year Award in 1997, back-to-back batting titles in 1999 and 2000, and making five All-Star teams. But an Achilles injury limited his playing time and defensive range in 2004, the final year of his contract. Garciaparra's name was mentioned in trade talks over the prior offseason, but Theo Epstein finally pulled the trigger on a deal at the trade deadline in 2004 in an effort to shore up the team's defense.

Was it a good trade? Without a doubt. Garciaparra was never the same player, and it's hard to question the result of the deal when the Sox ended their 86-year championship drought.

"},{"index":19,"title":"2005: Bruins trade Joe Thornton ","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/02/05/joe_thornton_2004_playoffs_getty.jpg","caption":"

Details: Bruins trade Thornton to the Sharks for Marco Sturm, Wayne Primeau, and Brad Stuart

After the B's drafted Thornton first overall as a 17-year-old in 1997, he went on to score 169 goals in seven-plus seasons and served as the team's captain for his final three years in Boston. But with the Bruins struggling to start 2005, Mike O'Connell pulled off an absolute stunner, which Thonton said "blindsided" him.

Was it a good trade? Not even close. Jumbo Joe led the league in assists and points in 2005-06, winning the Hart Trophy as the only player to be named MVP during a season in which he changed teams. And though Thornton has never won a Stanley Cup, his 1,498 points rank 14th in league history.

"},{"index":21,"title":"2006: Patriots trade Deion Branch ","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/02/05/deion_branch_sb38.jpg","caption":"

Details: Patriots trade Branch to Seahawks for a first-round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft

After being drafted in the second round in 2002, Branch was a key contributor for the Patriots, especially when it counted most. In Super Bowl XXXVIII, he caught 10 balls for 143 yards and a score, and followed that up with an MVP performance of 11 catches and 133 yards in Super Bowl XXXIX. But when Branch entered the final year of his rookie contract in 2006, he held out, leading to over $600,000 in fines before being dealt to Seattle.

Was it a good trade? Given Branch's postseason contributions, it's hard to term this one a win. It's just another example of Bill Belichick's cold-blooded nature when it comes to personnel decisions.

"},{"index":23,"title":"2008: Red Sox trade Manny Ramirez ","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/02/05/manny_ramirez_red_sox_2001.jpg","caption":"

Details: Red Sox trade Ramirez to Dodgers in a three-team deal, acquring Jason Bay from the Pirates

Signing Manny Ramirez to a eight-year, $160 million contract in 2000 was an absolutely massive move for the Sox, and he delivered in a massive way, with seven straight seasons of 30+ HR and 100+ RBI, pairing with David Ortiz for a fearsome 1-2 punch in the middle of the lineup and winning a pair of World Series. But by 2008, he had overstayed his welcome, fighting with Kevin Youkilis in the dugout, pushing the team's 64-year-old traveling secretary to the ground, and being a distraction and overall malcontent.

Was it a good trade? Yep. Even though he was still producing in '08, Manny needed to go, and Bay filled his spot in the lineup in his All-Star season of 2009 with 36 HR and 119 RBI.

"},{"index":25,"title":"2009: Patriots trade Richard Seymour","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/02/05/richard_seymour_patriots.jpg","caption":"

Details: Patriots trade Seymour to Raiders for a first-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft

In eight seasons in New England, Seymour was one of the best defensive linemen in football, helping the Patriots win four AFC Championships and three Super Bowls, getting named to five Pro Bowls along the way. But after missing the playoffs in 2008 and with Seymour entering the final year of his contract, Bill Belichick made the shocking decision to deal Seymour for a first-round pick, basically acknowledging that the team was undergoing a bit of a re-set.

Was it a good trade? Though it was tough to see Seymour go, the trade worked in a huge way. That first-round pick turned into Nate Solder, and as Tom E. Curran detailed here, the trade set the stage for the Pats to acquire players like Shane Vereen, Chandler Jones, and Dont'a Hightower

"},{"index":27,"title":"2010: Patriots trade Randy Moss","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/02/05/randy_moss.jpg","caption":"

Details: Patriots trade Moss and a seventh-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft for a third-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft

Pairing Randy Moss with Tom Brady paid immediate dividends after the Patriots traded for him in 2007. Moss caught an NFL-record 23 of Tom Brady's then-record 50 TD passes as New England rolled to an undefeated 16-0 regular season. (We won't discuss what happened in the Super Bowl.) Moss followed that campaign up with 24 TD catches over the next two seasons, but the honeymoon was over in 2010 as he entered the final year of his contract. He said he didn't feel wanted without an extension — words that proved prophetic weeks later when he was sent to the Vikes.

Was it a good trade? Moss had worn out his welcome in New England — and quickly did so in Minnesota as well, where he only lasted four games before getting waived — so getting him out of Foxboro was a necessity. The Patriots ended up selecting Ryan Mallett with the draft pick they received in the deal.

"},{"index":29,"title":"2013: Celtics trade Paul Pierce & Kevin Garnett ","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/02/05/pierce_garnett.jpg","caption":"

Details: Celtics trade Pierce, Garnett, Jason Terry for five players and future first-round picks in the 2014, 2016, and 2018 NBA Drafts

Danny Ainge had already earned his "Trader Danny" nickname by 2013, but this deal cemented it. Brooklyn acquired Hall of Famers, but Ainge got draft capital... a lot of draft capital. The Nets thought they'd be a championship contender; they weren't. Meanwhile, the Celtics are still reaping the benefits of one of the most lopsided deals in NBA history.

Was it a good trade? Hmm... let us think. No, it wasn't just good; it was incredible. Ainge used the picks he acquired to both draft Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown and trade for Kyrie Irving.

"},{"index":31,"title":"2013: Bruins trade Tyler Seguin ","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/02/05/tyler_seguin_bruins.jpg","caption":"

Details: Bruins trade Seguin, Rich Peverley, and Ryan Button to Stars for Loui Eriksson, Reilly Smith, Matt Fraser, and Joe Morrow

Sorry, Bruins fans. We have to include this one. The Bruins drafted Seguin second overall in 2010 when he was just 18 years old. He was the team's leading scorer in his second season. He helped the team reach the Stanley Cup Final in his third season. But only 10 days after the B's Game 6 loss to the Blackhawks, he was gone just like that.

Was it a good trade? It was an exceptionally good trade... for Dallas. While Seguin continues to be a mainstay in the Stars lineup with five All-Star appearances under his belt, none of the players the B's received did much of anything in Boston and the team only won one playoff series over the next four years.

"},{"index":33,"title":"2014: Patriots trade Logan Mankins","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/02/05/patriots_logan_mankins.jpg","caption":"

Details: Patriots trade Mankins to the Buccaneers for Tim Wright and a fourth-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft

Mankins has to be the highest-profile Patriot during the team's dynasty to not own a Super Bowl ring. Drafted in the first round in 2005, Mankins missed out on the first three championships, lost Super Bowls XLII and XLVI, then was traded in 2014, missing out on the team's Super Bowl XLIX win by about five months. A six-time Pro Bowler, Mankins played an entire season on a torn ACL and was called "one of the all-time great Patriots" by Bill Belichick when he dealt the guard to Tampa.

Was it a good trade? It's hard to say the deal was a bad one when the Patriots won the Super Bowl that season and the draft pick turned into Trey Flowers, but as Tom E. Curran described here, the deal didn't have to happen.

"},{"index":35,"title":"2017: Celtics trade Isaiah Thomas ","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/02/05/isaiah_thomas_122319.jpg","caption":"

Details: Celtics trade Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, Nets' 2018 first-round pick, and Miami's 2020 second-round pick to the Cavaliers for Kyrie Irving

Talk about a deal that was worth the risk at the time, even if it meant parting with a player who was beloved in Boston and acquiring a player who is now absolutely reviled. In trading for Irving, Danny Ainge took a big swing for a championship contender that had just signed Gordon Hayward in free agency. But fate was cruel to the C's, as Hayward got injured in his first game, Irving didn't even make it to the postseason, then bolted in free agency a year after he pledged to re-sign in Boston. Oops.

Was it a good trade? Are we grading the deal when it happened, months later when Thomas was injured and sidelined, or much later after Kyrie spurned the Celtics in free agency? Depending on when the question was asked, Celtics fans would answer in very different ways.

"},{"index":37,"title":"2020: Red Sox trade Mookie Betts","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/02/05/mookie_betts.jpg","caption":"

Details: Red Sox trade Mookie Betts, David Price to the Dodgers, get Alex Verdugo and Brusdar Graterol from Dodgers and Twins

The Red Sox ownership group and John Henry made it clear that they wanted to slash payroll to avoid the luxury tax in 2020. And the cost of doing that was offloading a 27-year-old MVP. Betts won the MVP in 2018 after hitting .346 with 32 homers and had a solid 2019 campaign (.295 average, 29 homers) despite the Red Sox underachieving. Verdugo, 23, hit .294 with 12 homers in his first big-league season and Graterol, 21, has clocked 101 on the radar gun, but this deal certainly won't sit well with Red Sox fans. Maybe the duo of young prospects will prove the Sox right in the coming years.

Was it a good trade? Time will tell.

"},{"index":39,"title":"Other big trades","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/02/05/rajon_rondo_celtics.jpg","caption":"

1986: Bruins trade Barry Pederson to Canucks

1989: Celtics trade Danny Ainge to Kings

2009: Patriots trade Mike Vrabel & Matt Cassel to Chiefs

2011: Celtics trade Kendrick Perkins to Thunder

2012: Red Sox trade Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez & Carl Crawford to Dodgers

2014: Red Sox trade Jon Lester to A's

2014: Celtics trade Rajon Rondo to Mavericks

2016: Patriots trade Chandler Jones to Cardinals

"}]}

Mookie Betts deal among biggest trades in Boston sports history