Mookie Betts is guaranteed to spend one more year with the Boston Red Sox. Betts contract will expire with Boston after the 2020 season which is the final year of control the club has on Betts. Will Betts test free agency or will he re-up with the Sox? If it’s up to Betts, it doesn’t sound like he wants to leave. Mookie Betts loves the city of Boston.
During a recent interview on WEEI’s “Ordway, Merloni & Fauria” show, shut down the notion that he doesn’t like Boston:
“No matter what I say, people are going to have their opinions and there’s nothing you can do about that,” Betts said. “But I’ve made it known this is my second home. I’ve been here, this is all I know. I’ve loved it here. I love the fans, everybody — my teammates, front office, everybody here. That doesn’t change the business of baseball and what value is there.
“I don’t want to go down that path, but for people who don’t think I enjoy it here, I love it here. I come here in the
winter time just tocome hang out with friends and whatnot. My family loves coming up here and going to do things. It’s not that I don’t like Boston at all.”
I don’t understand the Boston media. Let’s start there. I love Boston but they have the worst media rhetoric possible. Who the hell started the rumor that Mookie doesn’t like Boston? It’s total trash. Just trying to start garbage for no reason. Given this response, it sounds pretty obvious that Mookie loves the city. You would be crazy not to.
Mookie does sound like a guy that will prioritize a paycheck. He’s going to test free agency to maximize his earning potential. Betts would love to stay in Boston. He’s just not the guy that sounds likely to take a hometown discount. The Sox really don’t have any other contracts they need to take care of in the short term. Boston is going to prioritize getting a new contract done with the former MVP before anyone else on the team. Rafael Devers doesn’t hit free agency until 2024. Andrew Benintendi doesn’t hit the market until after 2022 season. Xander Bogaerts is already locked up. Mookie Betts isn’t a lock to stay in Boston but I would be stunned if the two sides didn’t work out a deal eventually.
