Red Sox and Mookie Betts Reportedly Miles Apart After Asking Price Apparently Revealed
By Brendan Balsamo
Trade rumors about Mookie Betts have been swirling since the beginning of the offseason.
Why get rid of such a great talent like Betts? Once Betts' salary expectations became clear, as well as Boston's counter, the likelihood of meeting in the middle essentially disappeared.
.@LouMerloni says the #Redsox offered Mookie Betts a 10 years, $300M deal in the 2019 offseason. Mookie countered with 12 years, $420M
— OMF (@OMFonWEEI) January 28, 2020
Lou says Mookie and the Sox have been off by $100M or more in the past 3 negotiations not including this past offseason pic.twitter.com/zfMt2n1Ske
Keep in mind that the contract Betts countered with, a 12-year $420 million deal, is only $10 million less than Mike Trout's 12-year, $430 million contract he signed last offseason, the biggest in sports history. Betts is a fantastic player, but he and his agent are aiming high.
While the former MVP could potentially earn that much on the open market should he bounce back with another All-Star season, Boston isn't willing to make that bet in the former of $35 million a year.
Supposedly the Red Sox offered Mookie Betts 10 years/ $300 million and he countered with 12 years/ $420 million.
— Jordan Moore (@iJordanMoore) January 28, 2020
I love Mookie to death but there’s NO WAY he’s worth that. At this point, it’ll be completely fine for the Sox to move on imo. Let’s trade for prospects NOW! pic.twitter.com/Z4rJDIsfwB
There's been no shortage of efforts from the Red Sox to keep Betts at Fenway Park for the long term. However, if a player turns down a $300 million deal, perhaps it's for the best that both sides separate.
In the end, Chaim Bloom and Co. are trying to cut payroll. Betts doesn't fit into that plan.