BOSTON — Blake Swihart and Mookie Betts are tuning out the rumblings.
The Red Sox are no strangers to trade rumors. Both Swihart and Betts — Boston’s most highly regarded prospects — recognize that reality and thus aren’t paying much attention to this offseason’s trade chatter.
“My mom and dad were the ones telling me, so I was kind of letting them deal with it, and I was just working out and going about my business like I normally do,” Swihart said Friday at the Red Sox Rookie Development Program at Harvard Stadium. “Whatever happens, happens. I’ll play anywhere. But I’m happy to be here, and it’s always been a lifelong dream to play major league baseball.”
Swihart and Betts really haven’t been involved in any serious trade speculation, but their names inherently are tossed around with regards to potential blockbusters. Such is the price of being considered future stars whom teams undoubtedly would love to pry away from Boston.
Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington has refrained from dealing Swihart and/or Betts to this point, and it’s possible — perhaps even likely — that Boston someday will build around the two young players. One can assume the rumors will continue to fly, though, which is quite all right with Betts.
“I hear about it. I don’t pay a whole lot of attention to it,” Betts said of the Red Sox’s offseason happenings. “It’s just nice to know who (the Red Sox) got. But it didn’t affect me at all. I know those guys are getting their work in. I know I have to get my work in as well.”
Suiting up for Boston — a big-market franchise that demands annual success — often requires one to block out a substantial amount of noise. Swihart and Betts seem to already have mastered that art.
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@MLBPipeline
