RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesBOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 14: The Boston Red Sox logo is seen on a helmet in the dugout during the eighth inning of game two of a doubleheader against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on September 14, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
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With the MLB trade deadline looming, the Boston Red Sox have surprisingly surged back into a buyer’s position after a roller coaster season.
But as the team looks to fortify its roster in the middle of an improbable contention surge, fans might be thinking about some of the transaction miscues the team has had in previous years.
Probably most fresh in fans’ minds was a decision to trade away franchise slugger Rafael Devers last year, which shed a big salary but brought back little return. Then, before that, there was the decision to cut ties with star outfielder Mookie Betts, who has thrived with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Then, earlier this week, fans got a reminder from another trade castoff who has helped to define some of their ongoing anxieties.
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During the team’s opening game in their latest series with the Dodgers, six-time All-Star Nomar Garciaparra joined the broadcast to send his former fans a message.
“I could, quite honestly, never thank the fans enough, the way they embraced me,” Garciaparra said during the broadcast on NESN. “Go over there to Boston and they embraced me (and I’m) forever grateful.”
Few trades in Boston Red Sox history remain as emotionally charged as the one that sent Garciaparra out of town at the 2004 deadline. Boston moved Garciaparra in a four-team blockbuster that brought Orlando Cabrera and Doug Mientkiewicz to the club as the Red Sox reshaped their roster ahead of an eventual World Series championship. Garciaparra publicly thanked the organization and its fans before departing for the Chicago Cubs, but he had been the center of some controversy and speculation about a move for some time before that.
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Although the trade initially stunned Red Sox fans, Garciaparra's latest comments suggest there are no lingering hard feelings. Instead, his focus remains on the appreciation he still feels for the city and the fan base that helped define his career.
Garciaparra's legacy evidently continues to resonate inside the organization, including with current players.
Newly acquired infielder Caleb Durbin recently switched to No. 5 after it became available and sent a message about the former trade castoff shortly afterward.
“Some guys were like, oh, you want to wear Nomar’s number?” Durbin told The Boston Globe’s Tim Healey at the time . “I’m like, I’ll wear Nomar’s number. He’s a legend. Just wearing the Red Sox jersey is an honor in itself.”
That gesture highlighted how Garciaparra's influence continues in Boston long after his playing days ended in a controversial trade. And as the Red Sox look to make some more big changes before the latest deadline, fans are probably hoping they won’t part ways with a star talent again.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
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