AL MVP Betts agrees to 1-year deal with Red Sox
BOSTON (AP) >> Mookie Betts keeps putting up big numbers.
The AL MVP and the World Series champion Boston Red Sox agreed to a $20 million, one-year contract Friday, a raise of $9.5 million that was for a few hours the highest for an arbitration- eligible player.
Betts was later surpassed by New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom, who got a raise from $7.4 million to $17 million.
The Red Sox reached deals with all nine players eligible for arbitration ahead of Friday’s scheduled swap of salary figures. Shortstop Xander Bogaerts got a $12 million contract and outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. got $8.55 million.
After beating the Red Sox in arbitration last offseason, the 26-year- old Betts led the major leagues in batting average (.346) and slugging percentage (.640) and was second in on-base average (.438). He also had 84 extra-base hits, including 32 home runs, and stole 30 bases. The right fielder also won his third straight Gold Glove while making $10.5 million.
Betts can make more in award bonuses, including $100,000 each for AL MVP, World Series MVP and ALCS MVP, and $50,000 bonuses for making the All- Star team or winning a Gold Glove or Silver Slugger award. He would get $75,000 for finishing second in the MVP vote and $50,000 for third.
Betts is eligible for free agency