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Red Sox star Mookie Betts gets record $27 million arbitration deal

By Tyler Roberts

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 29: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox runs to first base during the fifth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park on September 29, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 29: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox runs to first base during the fifth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park on September 29, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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Arbitration is a big deal in baseball and it was especially for Boston Red Sox star Mookie Betts who set the arbitration record with a $27 million deal.

Mookie Betts received a record arbitration deal a $27 million deal from the Boston Red Sox, which exceeds the record set last season by the Colorado Rockies and Nolan Arenado.  He received $26 million last season before negotiating his big contract.

Betts, an outfielder, was one of several Red Sox who received arbitration deals.  The others are relief pitchers Matt Barnes ($3.1 million), Heath Hembree ($1.1625 million) and Brandon Workman ($3.5 million), and center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. ($11 million).

Outfielder Andrew Benintendi and left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez were the only two arbitration-eligible players who didn’t sign with the Red Sox.

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Betts has been the center of trade talks all off-season with him being linked to the Los Angeles Dodgers among several other teams.  He has a career slash line of .301/.374/.519 with 139 home runs and 470 RBI’s.  He is a 4-time all-star and helped Boston win the World Series in 2018.

To me, this move suggests Betts will be around for the entirety of this season and both sides will more than likely be working on an actual contract extension.  He is one of the players who would look weird in a different uniform, simply because I’m used to seeing him in a Red Sox jersey.

Bradley Jr.makes sense because he is an elite defender.  Unfortunately, he hasn’t been the best player in the world at the plate, somewhere he struggles.  He is rated as the 31st best outfielder according to FanGraphs and is well-known for his spectacular plays in the field.

The three relievers signed are additions and strengthen one of the team’s weaknesses, the bullpen.

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The biggest question for me is whether or not this leads to a long-term deal for Betts.  I have to think it does after committing so much money to him this season.  One thing is for sure, it will be interesting to see how it plays out.

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