The new Redsock management may have just realized that it's not in Tampa anymore

For Boston fans, it's been an ice-dagger winter. After belly-flopping in the playoffs, the Patriots have been poor-mouthing the cost of Tom Brady, their generational icon. Meanwhile, the Redsocks just coldly traded their most popular player, Mookie Betts, in a deal that unfurled like a week-long colonoscopy. 

In both cases, they are simulating the ways of the Yankees over the last 10 years: 

A billionaire owner pretends to be a millionaire, so that we should feel sorry for him.

At a time when the global division of wealth now rivals climate change as an existential threat to society - (By the way, if you haven't seen Parasite, it's wonderful!) - the owners of professional sports teams have earned a special dung heap in Hell. They enjoy unprecedented growth in the values of their franchises, and then whine about having to pay the help. "Luxury tax? Unfair! Why, we can't afford this!" 

But let's get to the Betts trade, which was revamped over the weekend, after scans of Brusdar Graterol's arm raised flags with Redsock management. (Or maybe it was just the fierce reaction of the Boston fan base.) At the last minute, the Redsocks turned over the chessboard and seemed to collapse the deal, a Trumpian move, as outlined in his ghostwritten books on screwing people. Now, instead of the MLB-ready Graterol, Boston will receives two Double A batteries - a shortstop (named Jeter Downs, no less) and a catcher (Connor Wong.) Yes, the comedy team of Downs and Wong! Both are certifiable prospects, who should elevate the Redsocks farm system, which was vandalized by trades in 2017 and 2018 (and which should take another hit if MLB shows some spine over the recent cheating scandal. My guess, though, is that after seeing the angry backlash against Houston, MLB will soft-pedal the charges against Alex Cora in Boston.) 

Look, it's ridiculous to rate deals on the morning after. But one thing this trade does for Boston is extend the date on any evaluations. It will take two or three years before these prospects rise or fail, and unless they fizzle immediately, or are revealed as dwarfs standing piggyback, they will bring long term hope to Fenway Nation. The question, though, is whether the fans will wait.

Boston's new chief executive, Chaim Bloom, is credited with keeping the Tampa Rays competitive for the last 10 years, despite a payroll worthy of Walmart greeters. Bloom did this by trading stars before they reached their contract years, eventually so numbing the hearts of Tampa fans that they barely even support contending teams. Bloom is now doing the same thing in Boston. The Betts deal signals a clear message to every Redsock star: If you like it here, you'll take what we offer. 

But Bloom may have underestimated the passion of Boston fans. They don't take kindly to having their hearts kicked to the curb. They'll never fully accept seeing Brady or Betts play for other teams. It's the iciest winter they've endured since the Curse of the Bambino, and it might even signal the end of their golden era of Super Bowl and World Series rings. They won't go down easily. This is not Tampa, and it's cold outside.