As star outfielder Mookie Betts near free agency, his contract number moves higher and higher. On Friday, the Red Sox and Betts reportedly settled on arbitration by agreeing to a one-year deal worth $20 million.
According to Jeff Passion of ESPN, both sides reportedly reached agreement on the one-year deal on Friday. Given it is only Betts’ second year of arbitration, it is a massive number for the young outfielder.
Betts is coming off another monster season in Boston with a 1.078 OPS, .346 batting average, 32 home runs and 30 stolen bases.
He will be arbitration-eligible for the final time next season before becoming a free agent heading into his age-28 season in 2021.