Felger & Mazz: Is Shane Victorino Openly Lobbying For A Mookie Betts-Cole Hamels Trade?
When Shane Victorino arrived at Red Sox camp this February, he declared himself to be the starting right fielder.
The veteran outfielder got the public backing of his manager in that regard, but after some nagging "general soreness" kept him out of the lineup for a spell, Victorino apparently wants to make sure he still has his secured spot on the team.
Here's what Victorino told the Philadelphia Daily News regarding the Red Sox possibly acquiring pitcher Cole Hamels:
"I'd love to see him any time. ... I'm also happy with the guys we've got - I respect them. ... Any time you can get a No. 1, as I told these guys - not the front office, but the players - any time you can go get a guy in my opinion who is established, who has done it [you do it]. And I understand you don't want to give up this prospect or that prospect. You're hoping this guy becomes a Cole Hamels. Hoping. Oh wait, that guy is there now. And even as a hitter. Why would you hope that guy becomes this hitter, when you have it right now? And I understand there's a financial side. And there's a bigger picture. But like I said, at the end of the day, it's right here in front of you. Why are you hoping?"
These comments didn't pass the smell test for Michael Felger and Tony Massarotti, who interpreted the statement as a clear-cut calling for the Red Sox to trade Mookie Betts for Cole Hamels.
"There are two parts of the comment that really bug the crap out of me," Mazz said, noting that he understands that most veterans want to win now rather than wait for prospects to develop. "In this particular case, you have a 34-year-old, breaking-down outfielder whose job is potentially going to be taken by whom? Mookie Betts, or by default, Rusney Castillo. And so who are we talking about, potentially, in this trade? Mookie Betts. So is that the deal?"
"Mookie Betts is going to take his job, [and Victorino says] 'Hey, get the kid out of here, because we can win now if we get Hamels,'" Mazz added.
"Really ... what a comment," said Felger. "Throwing your young players under the bus, who are competing against you for your job."
"Wow," Mazz said. "What a loser. 'Get rid of the kid before he takes my job.' That's how it comes off."
Mazz also pointed out that if a trade doesn't go down between the Red Sox and Phillies, then Victorino is going to have a share a clubhouse with Betts and possibly Henry Owens or Blake Swihart.
"They're on your team! You're talking about an elite prospect. So you're going to come out publicly and say 'I'd move one of these guys in a second, because I don't know what he's going to be'? Well, that does wonders for team chemistry, doesn't it? Really, this Red Sox team that prided itself on chemistry and character and camaraderie a couple of years ago, now that you are a 34-year-old broken-down guy in the final year of a contract, now you want to get rid of the prospect because it serves you."
Mazz added: "If I were one of the veteran guys on this team, I'd pull him aside and say, 'Hey, pinhead. Mookie Betts is going to play with us this year. You're out here lobbying for him to be dealt. ... You're openly lobbying for us to get rid of these guys, and we've got to share a room with them for the next six months? What are you stupid?'"
