Betts cashes in for $20M in ’19
Sox avoid arbitration with MVP
The Red Sox avoided the major embarrassment of having to take American League MVP Mookie Betts to arbitration, settling with the 26-year-old outfielder on a $20 million contract for 2019, according to a major league source.
Besides Betts, the Red Sox have reached settlements with their 11 other arbitration-eligible players, a list that includes Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Eduardo Rodriguez. The settlements mean the Sox will avoid arbitration hearings altogether this year.
Betts is under Red Sox control for two more seasons. He sits atop the list of pending free agents the team will try to lock up on a long-term contract before he enters free agency after the 2020 season.
Past negotiations with Betts have not gone well. He and the club could not come to an agreement on salaries the last two seasons. Before the 2017 season, Betts’ contract was renewed. A year ago, he won in arbitration and was awarded a $10.5 million salary (the Sox had offered $7.5 million).
Had the sides been unable to come to an agreement before yesterday’s 1 p.m. deadline, they would have gone to arbitration again since the Sox do not negotiate after filing arbitration figures. The prospect of arguing for a lower salary for the MVP would have been a particularly unflattering look for the Red Sox, and serve as a red flag for their chances to come to an agreement on a contract extension for Betts.
A long-term deal that would dissuade Betts from entering free agency would be massive and there is no guarantee he would be amenable to such a deal. Forecasting amounts would be premature until current free agent outfielder Bryce Harper, who is the same age as Betts, inks a deal this offseason. That contract could easily top $300 million in total value.
The $20 million salary for Betts represents a new high for a player with only four years of service. Betts joins Rick Porcello ($21 million), J.D. Martinez ($23.75 million) and David Price ($31 million) in the Sox’ $20 million-plus club for this coming season.
Betts’ 2018 was stupendous, as he led the league in average (.346), runs (129) and slugging percentage (.640). He hit 32 homers and won a Gold Glove as well.
With amounts coming from sources including the Boston Sports Journal, the Red Sox reached agreements on 2019 salaries with Bogaerts ($12 million), Bradley ($8.55 million), Rodriguez ($4.3 million), Brock Holt ($3.575 million), Sandy Leon ($2.475 million), Matt Barnes ($1.6 million), Steven Wright ($1.375 million), Brandon Workman ($1.15 million) and Blake Swihart ($910,000). Earlier, the club settled with relievers Tyler Thornburg and Heath Hembree.
The figures confirm what is already known, which is the Red Sox’ 2019 payroll will be massive, and could once again top the major leagues.
They are already committed to paying Dustin Pedroia a little over $15 million, along with payments to Pablo Sandoval ($18 millionplus) and Rusney Castillo ($11.8 million).