Betts to Skip White House Visit
By Matt McCarthy, 985TheSportsHub.com
Mookie Betts will not be among the Red Sox players and staff who will visit the White House later this year to celebrate their World Series championship.
Betts was in New York last night to receive his American League Most Valuable Player award and told reporters that he does not plan to attend the gathering in Washington.
“I won’t be going there,” Betts said. “I decided not to.”
Betts is now the second player to say he will not visit the White House, along with third baseman Rafael Devers. Shortstop Xander Bogaerts and left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez are publicly undecided.
Chris Sale, Rick Porcello, Blake Swihart, Mitch Moreland, Brian Johnson, Steve Pearce, Brock Holt, Matt Barnes, and Ryan Brasier have all indicated that they will attend.
Manager Alex Cora has been critical of President Trump’s response to Hurricane Maria in his native Puerto Rico.
The Red Sox were initially scheduled to visit Washington in March, but announced last week that they would postpone the trip due to the government shutdown that was still ongoing at the time. They are now expected to go to Washington in May after a three-game series in nearby Baltimore.
You can hear Matt McCarthy on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s own Hardcore Baseball podcast and on various 98.5 The Sports Hub programs. Follow him on Twitter @MattMcCarthy985.
