Mookie Betts’ days in Boston could be numbered.
The All-Star outfielder, who scored the winning run on Sunday in Boston’s season finale, is entering hin final year of team control and is eligible to become a free agent in the fall of 2020.
Mookie Betts made it home from first for the Red Sox to walk-off their last game of the season
(via @RedSox) pic.twitter.com/vK8sDP7xkE
— SI MLB (@si_mlb) September 29, 2019
Betts has made it clear he fully intends to test the free-agent waters once he’s eligible in the hope of landing a major payday. It’s possible that payday could come from Boston, but the 2018 AL MVP has given no indication his preference is to remain with the Red Sox.
That puts the team in the unfathomable position of having to seriously consider trading their best player to avoid losing him for nothing via free agency.
Betts’ teammates are aware of the situation and, thanks to the money he’ll be seeking next autumn, know there’s a chance yesterday’s game was the last the 26-year-old will play while wearing a Red Sox uniform.
Speaking about the situation, potential free agent J.D. Martinez told NBC Sports Boston it seems unlikely that the Red Sox will spend big to keep Betts as the team already has two players who will earn more than $30 million apiece next season in David Price and Chris Sale.
“I think everyone knows we don’t think they’re going to be able to afford Mookie,” Martinez told the outlet. “It’s one of those things. It’s kind of hard to have three guys making $30 million on your team. He deserves it. He’s earned it. I’ve been on too many teams where people come and go. For you guys (it’s hard), because you’ve seen him grow. I came into this situation. To me, everyone is expendable.”
Martinez’s comments jibe with the team’s stated desire to remain under the luxury tax threshold of $208 million next season.
To get under that amount, the team will likely have to shed salary this offseason, not add it.
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