Boston Red Sox rumors: Mookie Betts will reap rewards of Mike Trout contract

The news of Mike Trout’s massive contract extension sent shockwaves around Major League Baseball. If the Boston Red Sox are going to keep Mookie Betts they are going to have to break out the checkbook.

The Boston Red Sox are in a tough situation. Mookie Betts is one of the best outfielders in Major League Baseball, but his contract is expiring. The Sox need to lock him down.

Betts is an amazing player. He can hit for power but is also an excellent outfielder. Without him you don’t win a World Series.

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The 2018 season was a year to remember for Mookie. He led Major League Baseball in batting average (.346), slugging percentage (.640), and runs (129). Betts was named the 2018 MVP and got his first World Series championship. Boston Red Sox’s fans adore the guy.

The MLB landscape was shaken to its core when the news of Mike Trout’s contract extension. The bar had officially been set. This is what the face of the MLB is worth. I don’t think I can even comprehend how much $430 million dollars is.

Now Mookie Betts is no Mike Trout. Trout is a once in a generation player, but Betts will most likely shoot for a similar contract. The outfielders are close in age and are major parts of their team.

Betts will want to be locked up for the long term. If I had to guess at least 10 years. The money should be about the same as well.

Even if Betts doesn’t make as much in total as Trout he will surely eclipse Bryce Harper’s 13 year $330 million deal. Betts at the minimum will get a contract worth $350-375 million.

You knew that the Boston Red Sox were going to have to “back up the Brinks truck” for Betts, but I don’t know if we could have expected such a high number.

If Boston tries to wait things out they could risk losing what could be there most important player on their roster. The evil empire that is the New York Yankees, or some other team that loves spending money could swoop in and steal Betts.

The Red Sox have made mistakes in the past. We saw Jon Lester leave the team because Boston was unable to pay the starting pitcher. Lester would then head to the Chicago Cubs and win a World Series.

So Boston can’t make the same mistake again. Pay Mookie Betts whatever he wants. I guarantee that he is worth it.