Mookie Betts And The Red Sox Avoid Arbitration With A $20 Million Salary For 2019
I’ve got good news and bad news — which one do you want first?
The GOOD news is, the Red Sox and Mookie Betts avoided going to arbitration, which they were unable to do last year and were not able to agree to terms with the outfielder the year prior to that. Theo Epstein avoided going to arbitration with every single one of his players while fulfilling his role as Red Sox general manager from 2003 through 2011. However, Dave Dombrowski hasn’t had the same success rate with Betts.
For those who are unfamiliar with the process, arbitration eligible players submit a figure that they think they’re worth, while their team submits the figure that they think the player is worth, and then both sides have to present their case to a panel on why they think their figure is the most fair. Not exactly wise to willingly participate in a scenario where you have to explain to a panel why your star player isn’t as good as they think they are…in front of said player.
So, the good news is that the Red Sox avoided having to go through this process with Betts for a second straight year. That would be bad. A year ago, Betts set the record for the highest salary ever granted to a first-year eligible player through an arbitration hearing. A year later, he has been awarded the highest salary ever to a player in their second year of arbitration. Next year, he will more than likely set another arbitration record before becoming a free agent at the end of the 2020 season.
That’s the bad news. The BAD news is that it will not be Manny Machado or Bryce Harper who will become the first ever $400 million player in baseball history, as once had been previously speculated not all that long ago. All signs point towards that being either Betts or Mike Trout following the conclusion of the 2020 season. If one of them gets $400 million, then they’re both getting $400 million, but the distinction of who becomes the first won’t really matter since they’re both lined up to be in the same free agent class.
They’ll be in the same free agent class because Betts is on a one-way path to free agency. While I’m sure the Red Sox would love to ink Betts to an extension, every indication has been that the reigning American League MVP has every intention to wet that beak in free agency. That’s not to say that there’s no chance that he’ll remain with Boston, but it won’t be that easy. Granted, only a handful of teams could afford to shell out a check for $400 million, but I’m sure more than just the Red Sox will be jumping at the opportunity to lock down one of the game’s best players to what will be the first or second most lucrative contract in baseball history.
Do you think the Red Sox eventually get Betts to agree to a long term contract? Let me know in the comments below!