Boston Red Sox MVP Mookie Betts is making $20 million in 2019 but how much can he expect for his mega contract?
The Boston Red Sox are fresh off a World Series Championship Title. Getting back to the Series will be no easy task but getting the right players certainly will make it less difficult. Adding Mookie Betts for the long haul is a step in the right direction. Mookie Betts is arguably one of the best players in baseball if not the best right now. An MVP Award and a World Series Win. Betts made $950K in 2017 and followed that up with a $10.5 million dollar salary in 2018.
How do you let a player know that you want to keep him long term? You double up what his annual salary would be during arbitration. Betts will get a $20 million salary for 2019. Can Betts see that Boston is making him their top priority? We all hope so. Few players can command what Betts is going to be making in the not so near future. This is no big surprise as one of the 3 B’s is in his 26-year-old season and 6th in the bigs.
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After getting robbed of the MVP Award in 2016, Betts has had four straight seasons of 42+ doubles, twice had 30+ home runs, twice had 100+ RBI’s, four times had 166+ hits, four times had 21+ stolen bases, and three times hit .291 or better including a league and career-best .346 in 2018. Simply put, the Red Sox have one of the very best playing in their outfield. Even in an interesting situation, Betts could come in to play 2nd base although that probably won’t happen.
2018 MLB Mega Contracts
With the mega contracts that multiple players in the MLB have just signed we look at a couple of the big ones. Manny Machado got a mega deal in San Diego for $300 million over 10 years. Betts’ numbers are far better than his and he’s got a much better attitude and level of respect for the game. We don’t need to go over all the examples of how Manny is considered one of the dirtiest players in baseball. Machado decided that a big contract was worth more than playing in the Postseason. Not everyone cares about the game.
The bigger deal that came not long after was rewarded to Bryce Harper who was able to get $330 million over the next 13 seasons with the Phillies. Harper has hit 20+ home runs 6 times, hit 30+ twice and hit 42 back in 2015 while also hitting .330 and getting his first MVP Award. Both Harper and Machado are 26 years old. Mike Trout made the biggest splash this offseason with the largest contract signed by a Major League Baseball player ever. The Angels signed him to a 12 year $428.17 million dollar deal. Almost a full $100 million over Harper.
Harper is 9 days younger than Betts. Is it safe to assume that Betts will make a Harper type deal? Easily. He’ll surpass Machado for sure. With the skill, will, talent, and class, it’s a 100% sure bet. To get more than Harper, Betts will no doubt have to sacrifice his last year of arbitration eligibility in hopes of getting a 10+ year deal. Is it safe to assume that Betts will get $30+ million? It’s safe to assume that Betts will take more years than a higher average salary.
Could Betts settle for a 12 year deal with an average salary of $31+ million a year? Figuring it’ll be a slight uptick in pay in each season after 2019. Betts could be a Red Sox for the rest of his career. Imagine that, Sox fans not having to worry about losing Betts through 2031? It’s a perfect thought to the situation. Losing Betts could upset fans for years to come unless he turns into Jacoby Ellsbury who flamed out not long after leaving Boston.
In a perfect world where all the stars align, we know that Betts isn’t going to get the same deal as Trout. Betts will more than likely command an average annual salary between $31 – $33 million over the next 12 years. This is, of course, assuming he does sign a contract including his last arbitration-eligible year. One thing is for sure, Betts is the next player in line to make a deal approaching the $400 million dollar mark.