What had long been apparent became official Friday. The defending World Series champions would not earn a chance to defend their title in the postseason. With the Red Sox officially eliminated and many in Boston turning their attention to another team looking for a more successful title defense effort, the focus for the Sox is now on 2020 and beyond.
- Mookie Betts’ status as a free agent after 2020 will surely generate quite a few headlines in the coming months. The superstar outfielder discussed his situation with Alex Speier of the Boston Globe, noting that he doesn’t feel it critical to his legacy to spend his entire career in one city. That’s not to say Betts is definitely leaving Boston; Speier notes that player and organization have a strong relationship, with the Sox particularly respecting Betts’ dedication to returning to the field recently from a foot injury despite their place in the standings. Rather, Betts has a history of justifiably and successfully betting on himself, Speier chronicles, and there’s no reason to sell himself short in extension talks given his elite level of performance. Betts overcame something of a slow start in 2019 to hit .292/.388/.521, aided by work with an independent hitting instructor he met through teammate Christian Vázquez, documented by Chad Jennings of the Athletic.
- While free agency will no doubt prove lucrative to a superstar like Betts, the market has been decidedly less kind to players like Mitch Moreland, the first baseman lamented to Rob Bradford of WEEI. Moreland’s last foray into free agency landed him a 2-year, $13MM deal to return to Boston, but he’ll have a hard time finding that much this winter. The 34-year-old tells Bradford that finding the right fit, not maxing out financially, will be his priority in choosing a suitor this offseason, although he acknowledged he may not have too many offers to choose from. Moreland says he’d love to return to Boston for a fourth season, but the executive who brought Moreland back two years ago, Dave Dombrowski, is gone, putting Moreland’s status with the organization up in the air. Working in Moreland’s favor, perhaps, the free agent market for first baseman isn’t especially robust, as MLBTR’s Steve Adams examined recently. Despite a pedestrian .244/.322/.498 line (108 wRC+), Moreland still seems likely to find a guaranteed contract somewhere on the market.
- In more immediate news, the Sox plan to be cautious with their top arms over the season’s final week. Manager Alex Cora tells Chris Cotillo of Mass Live the team will be judicious with the workloads of its high-leverage relievers (Matt Barnes, Darwinzon Hernández, and others) in prep for next season. A player who should make at least one appearance is Heath Hembree, who Cora notes could be used either in traditional relief or as an opener. Hembree has been on the shelf since August 2 with elbow inflammation in his throwing arm.
Can anyone else see Mookie in San Diego?
No
Why not? They certainly have the prospects to make the splash, and still have a strong farm after.
@Steven Chinwood
SD has the prospects but does it make sense to attempt to trade for Mookie who will be a FA at the end of 2020? Can the Padres afford another $250-$350 mil contract? The Padres likely won’t win 75 games this year. Would Mookie change that significantly? What are the odds he would want to stay? Sound to risky. Prospects are currency for small market teams and they should use it for maximum benefit as SD is NOT a great FA destination despite Manny signing there. It was more likely the best deal on the table since the usual big market spenders passed on him last winter.
San Diego is not a small market, only treated so by past ownership. Winning 75 games this year has nothing to do with expectations for 2020, especially with Tatis coming back healthy.
Yes the Padres have some work to do on the payroll side, but it’s not far fetched to see them jettisoning Myers. San Diego has proven with Manny, Hosmer, and the Myers contract they’ll indeed spend.
Don’t be surprised to also see the Padres go strong after Cole this winter, among others. Things change on destinations being great FA destinations.
Mookie is not in the 300000 league. He’s a really good player who had a great yr in 2018, helped by JD. I am sick to death of his FA talk. The Redsox should give him a deadline to extend, or trade him. His comments recently made me upset as a ball player spending their career with one team left me flat. Personally I think the Redsox should makes X man n Devers the faces of the team. Also I think SD would be a good place fir Mookie.
He most assuredly is in the 300m league. Through 6 seasons he has a higher career War than both Harper and Machado. Last year wasn’t a fluke because he did that two years previously as well and lost the mvp because the greatest player in baseball was healthy all year and won it as expected, but not without a hell of a fight on Mookie’s part.
As it is, I’m very torn on what to do with him as he’s going to go to free agency for sure, and if they don’t trade him they will get nothing for him other than compensation picks if he signs elsewhere. On the flip side, if they DO trade him, the chances he re-signs with Boston drops for sure. I love the guy and would love for him play the rest of his games with Boston as the face of the franchise, but as he keeps saying “this is a business” and if he wants to keep playing hardball about an extension then maybe it’s in Bostons best interest to get what they can get and move on.
@pasha2k
You’re entitled to your opinion but since 2015 the numbers by WAR have him as the 2nd best player in baseball behind only Trout. Even if you want to limit it to the “Yelich and Bellinger coming of age era” (2017-2019), he’s still #2 only to Trout. He’ll be 27 for the entirety of the 2020 season so he’s still relatively young. and basically the same ages as Harper and Manny.
Well then, I say “Go for it, Mookie!” The Cubs can use you starting in 2021.
I’d guess that Theo would love the chance to sign him again.
He’s better than Bryce Harper and should get more than he did
@Steven Chinwood
You are correct that they aren’t a small market in terms of population but you can say the same about Miami. They aren’t exactly killing it in attendance, although they are middle-of-pack whereas Miami is dead last by a large margin from 2nd worst. That being said, what they do in 2019 doesn’t mean they can’t or won’t improve for 2020 but if I’m a FA (which Mookie isn’t yet) it absolutely does factor into their decision especially if you’re talking about a 8-10 year commitment. Padres have a lot of holes to address and there’s no guarantee that the wave of rookies mlb ready will be successful.
Be crystal clear. I was happy to see a non-traditional big spender step up for Manny but had the Yanks, Sox, Dodgers, or a few other teams ponied up a $300 mil offer he likely would not be in a Padres uniform.
I think we all know, in the back of our minds, that if the Pads don’t field a strong playoff contender in the next 3-5 years, a rebuild sending Manny elsewhere is very likely to happen. Mookie and his agent know that too and if they have strong offers from teams that can pay him what they want and STILL improve the team as needed and have a history of being steady competitors then that’s where he’s likely to go. And no, I’m not suggesting the Yankees at all.
What does harper do that mookie doesnt? He is 100% in that 300m league… it’s when people say he should get trout money that it gets out of hand
Mookie is GONE, anyone whose been listening to everything he’s said knows it. The Redsox should give him a deadline, then trade if he doesn’t resign. It should be done this winter. I love Mookie, but I hate the team always thinking they can sign them n they walk for the bucks, Cubs, Evil Empire, to name a few. Not every player wants to stay in Boston, they are trying for their dream. But Mookue ca nit carry a team, my prediction is Devers can in the yrs to come.
Harper not worth it, either.
@ B-Strong. Last year DOES look like a fluke. Two years ago he didnt even sniff a 1.078 OPS. He is having the second best year of his career NOW and his .910 OPS is still a good margin behind last years performance.
I could see LA sending Verdugo and someone for Betts.
The Dodgers are already set with their outfield.
I can’t see the Dodgers entertaining Betts at the price the Sox’s should want. Especially knowing he has a year of control. They don’t value OFs the same way. I can see them spending cash, but they have an abundance of OFs as it stands. I can’t in anyway see SD doing so either. The Padres are not in that window, and a big splash will most definitely include control.
Dodgers aren’t taking on 40-50 million a year
Neither is Mookie Betts.
i dont see SD paying as much as would be needed to pay for a rental of Mookie, especially given they already have a lot of money tied up in Myers and Hosmer.
No
You know as a Yanks fan I hate the Red Sox. Saying that, I am so shocked that fans seem ready to embrace a rebuild. I know the farm is lacking but it’s not from poor drafting it’s from graduating prospects and dealing some to construct what was a world series champ. 2019 was a complete failure once you consider what the mandate should’ve been (defend the title). I know they’ve spent more than any other team but that’s the price you pay to get that title. They didn’t get to $250 mil by spending wildly. Aside from the Eovaldi deal they’ve been smart for the most part.
I don’t get the need to be so worried about money. If you were that concerned then why extend Sale? Why issue an extension to Boegarts? So he can waste his prime years on a team not going anywhere?
Are fans expecting a top to bottom rebuild where you let JD and Mookie walk and you attempt to trade Sale and Price (both with degrees of difficulty).? Rodriguez, Devers and Benintendi probably offer the greatest return. Are they on the table?
Yankee baseball is more fun when the Sox are at least competitive. I feel like this team was a little hung over from the WS run, a couple of guys had slight regression but were still legit all-stars in 2019 (JD and Betts) and maybe the GM misappropriated money by signing Eovaldi to that 4 year deal rather than spending on the bullpen. The farm sucks but wouldn’t you rather try for another shot at a title and not worry about replenishing the farm via the trade of former or current all-star players??
I agree the games with the Evil Empire are terrific when they both playing good.
It’s not a rebuild. We’re just trading mookie before he walks at the end of next year. I don’t think he wants to stay in Boston.. even if they offered him huge dollars. I think management knows that and will deal him for one strong young arm, and maybe another good Prospect or 2.
They aren’t trading Mookie, first no one is paying for a one year rental anymore, if he isn’t signing a long term deal before hand he stays with the Sox’s until next offseason and becomes a free agent
The Red Sox are not going to lose mookie for nothing. Just like Baltimore traded Machado, and actually got five guys for him. One might actually become a major Leaguer LOL. And Washington should have traded Harper.
The pitching staff has too many questions to bank on a rebound from all of their starters not named ERod. If JDM stays, the hitting should be fine with or without Mookie.
Meant to say that Nookie can return one stud of an arm if not two potentially good ones.
Pull a Chapman: Trade Betts for a haul (LA/San Diego/Atlanta) then sign him as a free agent 2021. Maybe hope he has a “down” year in new home making Boston seem more desirable.
very smart! it’s just that those teams seem to have smarter people!
LA-Has no need
Atl-Has Waters and Pache knocking on the door.
San Diego-Pitching is the most needed.
If LA misses another ring, theyll have a need for a top 10 OFer.
What if atlanta wants to have a superstar RF in 2020? They could deal one of those
SD has plenty of pitching to audition soon in addition to their current guys
Atlanta has a superstar in right field next season already, his name is Acuna Jr. Now if Mookie was fine with a switch to left field then sure.
San Francisco is where I see him ending up.
Why, for the enormous tax hikes on his paycheck? I dont see the Dodgers letting the Giants comeback to the grownups table in that division for the next 3 seasons. Pretty sure Mookie will aim at least for a team that will contend in the next half decade. Maybe fix the dimensions of Oracle Park first?
many teams have the money but you saw what happened last year. spending moving forward is different. Giants are a big market club and need to make a splashy change. Only reason I mentioned them.
They tried that before and it failed with Lester
Doubt Betts would resign. He sounds all but ready to leave Boston
Anytime a player starts saying that baseball is a business and he has to do what’s right for him and his family, he is a) not the face of a franchise as he is a player who is loyal as long as he’s paid. and b) he’s going for the most coin he can get to play!
@rocky7
In a players defense, what team’s GM sees the game as anything but a business when they have to work within salary restrictions. Plus you and I have never had to sit-in on those arbitration hearings where things can get really, real.
Players always feel as if they contribute more to the team than the team contributes to them. As iconic as Derek Jeter is to the Yanks he was reminded it’s a business when he sat down with Cashman when he signed his last deal towards the end of his career, I see nothing wrong with Betts wanting to go thru the FA process. He may stil decide to sign with them.
The problem is the Sox reinvested in Sales and Boegarts already. A lot depends on JDM. Sox need to lower their payroll to have flexibility to make in season adjustments. As they already spent the money that was coming off the books on Bogaerts and Sale, what’s left has to be for raises ERod, Benny who may get traded and Devers who they should try to lock up.
Does the Boston front office think one of
a) Mookie isn’t worth what he’s asking (long term near, at or more than Harper and Manny signed for?
b) That he simply doesn’t want to return to Boston and thus move him as a 1 year rental?
c) That signing him to market value $250-$325 mil puts their tax penalty to a point they refuse to go over?
d) Would rather spread that money around to keep Devers, Betts and maybe make a run on a FA like Cole?
e) Or trade him to kick off a full blown rebuild?
With the contracts the Sox have given to Price and Sale, and the pending decision by JD as far as an opt out (the only thing that will keep him around is a rather large extension or ripping up the old deal and getting a big money deal), doubt the Sox have the chops for another $200 million deal which it will take to land Cole…..
And, if they actually do sign Mookie, that reinforces the point even further….John Henry is already at the lux tax and new signings will cost even more between the tax implications and additional payroll.
Mookie is going to get 35-40 million per year. I’d be praying JDM opted out if I was a Sox fan. Lol
Trading one guy will not be a full-blown rebuild. They can plug a basher in right field for a lot less than 300 million. They’re set everywhere else if they do the yearly “add a few guys to the bullpen” Etc. Maybe get another starter.
Really the owner is right when he says the guys we have just have to play up to their potential. If you think about it, all those relief pitchers that the Red Sox passed on and should have signed last winter, have been busts this season, including Craig Kimbrel.
Benintendi mentioned in the headline…nothing about him in article. Makes sense.
Exactly what I was thinking!
Had originally planned to update Benintendi’s injury status here too and forgot to change the title after I scrapped that section. Thanks for the heads up!
Betts is not a player that I would want to sign to a long term deal. All deals like that are risky but I fear where his tool set won’t translate well to aging and he may be hampered by injuries.
Really!?
Really.
I see a little guy that’s at his best when young. As he gets older he’ll get slower and hurt more often than even now. Andrew McCutchen redo.
@Gary
I think you can say that every player will decline and be more susceptible to injuries as they get older. Mook hasn’t shown any propensity to injuries as of yet as he’s played about 90% of all games since 2015. But Trout is more likely to have an IL stint than Mook. He’s missed at least 20 games per year in the last 3 years.
Gary, I’m not saying injuries aren’t possible. I just think that if any free agent was a sure thing, it would be Mookie.
You both might be right. I just think as a smaller guy gets older he’s going to get banged up a little more. He can bounce back at 24, 26 but when he’s 31 those bumps are going to hurt and put you on the Shelf a little more often.
I’ve been happy with mookie in Boston but I think he wants to go somewhere else.
McCutchen until this year had never played less than 146 games?
Yes but I think his numbers fell off the map for a couple years now. He was an amazing player for years. MVP type. Mookie type. I just don’t like the idea of giving big years and big money to mookie. Rather trade him for prospects now.
@johnrealtime
Based off of? Since his first full season in 2015 Mookie has played in 90% of the full season schedule. So he doesn’t have an injury history. While he does steal bases his game is not predicated on speed the way Ellsbury and Carl Crawford were. Mookie’s a great hitter point blank and even if he lost a step defensively they can move him to LF if needed. But he’s 27 not 33. In fact, I would prefer if he not really worry about stealing bases.
New York Yankees!!!!!
Mookie to Seattle. They’ll have the money after the 2020 season and will need to overpay a superstar just like they did with Cano.
check his splits. he is a player he is because he plays in a matchbox.
Play that tune somewhere else troll. Teams have been drafting ballplayer’s suited to the the confines of their own stadiums particular quirks since the start.
troll!
@Vizionaire
Do you research these things before posting? Even though his numbers ARE slightly better at Fenway his road splits are still above average at .284/.360/.495 for an OPS of .855. vs .318/.387/.543 with an OPS of .930 at home.
But Ted Williams, Carl Yaz, Jim Rice and Dwight Evans have better home vs road splits too with TW having the least differential and Yaz and Rice having the more substantial home/road slippage.
318/387/543 can get a player certain award. the other numbers? of ‘also-played’!
To Seattle? Robinson Canó all over again…. I hope for there sake they’ve learned there lesson but…. probably not
@Bosox2013
I love Robbie but that’s a bad comparison. Cano was 31 and going into his 10th season when he signed a contract with the M’s. Betts will be 27 going into his 6th season. Plus, there’s no reason to think Betts is using PEDs and his defense should maintain to be at least average in the outfield corners as opposed to having to play a middle infield position.
Cano was amazing for Seattle, if he produces like Cano did they will be absolutely ecstatic
Mookie cannot wait to leave Boston. Gotta be realistic and deal him while he’s a top player
Can’t do that either if they are going to offer him a free agent contract (which they most certainly will) it will be Jon Lester 2.0 and ownership has publicly expressed regretting those decisions.
Bye Mookie.
Lester was fat and happy in Boston. He would never have done what he did if he stayed. Clemens 2.0 less the roids (I hope) As far as Mookie, he will leave for $1 more. Nothing wrong with that, it’s a business for both sides. If they can get good players back for him, go for it. They should at least entertain offers.
Must admit I’m 50/50 he signs with Boston. He’s been toeing this line for a few years now, he either wants max value contract or to play elsewhere. At the very worst, when he says optimistic things about Boston it’s because he needs them to drive his price up. I just don’t get the impression he cares whether he stays in Boston or not.
It’s unlikely Mookie is on the 2021 Red Sox. Don’t see him signing an extension. Don’t see the Red Sox paying what he wants, presumably a Machado or Harper type deal. Worst case they QO him after 2020 and get a draft pick unless they unload him between now and the trade deadline in 2020 and get MiLB prospects. The Red Sox need pitching in 2020 and beyond. Yes, it would be nice to keep Mookie and JD but don’t think that’s going to happen. Can see Mookie going to ATL.
Austin Riley and Sean Newcomb could be in a trade for Mookie with ATL.
Red Sox don’t need Riley they are set at first. I could see Atlanta trying to get him but Boston would want a young cost controlled outfielder and pitcher in return at the very least.
Third I meant for Riley.
I don’t see Mookie Betts signing an extension he wants to dip his toe in that F/A pool. Its all about how many people want me and are they willing to make me the highest paid player in MLB.
Now Boston can trade him in the pre 2020 season and get back a number of players and prospects, but teams aren’t going to offer as much for a one season player.
Next Boston can keep him and when he goes F/A they can bid for his services and make him that offer he wants. The question I have is will Boston break open that piggy bank or will they move. They have the money if they don’t mind the luxury tax penalties but are they willing to lock themselves into a long term deal. They have done it with Sale, Price, Evoldi, Bogaerts, Martinez and it didn’t work this season. As good as Betts may be is he alone going to get you to the ultimate goal.
Mookie to the Cardinals if they don’t resign Ozuna!!
Mookie has already stated that he wants to try Free Agency after next year. Fine. Then trade him this year while his value is strong, but don’t let him just waltz out of Boston without getting something back.
The Braves keep coming up in these discussions. Kris Bryant in another topic and Mookie Betts here. Just look at what seems to be the Braves strategy. though. They haven’t yet traded away talent in a block buster move despite having won the division for the second year in a row. Instead they are letting their talent develop into contributors.
We are not going to see the Braves moving significant talent for any superstars and certainly not for rentals.
Here’s the reality. I hate Mookie’s FA comments as much as the next guy, BUT, I think what he means (and isn’t fully articulated well) is that he wants the market to tell him his TRUE value, then decide on a team based on that – who knows, he may take 20m less over the contract life to be somewhere he wants. Or maybe I’m wrong on that.
As for the Sox, it’s a tough spot. Mookie is a 30m range franchise contract per year.
Sox already have 2 of those, nearly a 3rd in JD (for now). You cannot have 4 guys making almost 120m, or 5 at 140 with bogey. Not without significant pre-arb players.
Would ownership ok it until Price dropped off the payroll? We’ll see.
Can anyone else see Mookie going to the Twins for 2 of the three of Gaterol, Kiriloff, or Lewis and a lower level prospect?
Not sure if single a guys will get it done. Might have to be one AAA more of a sure thing guy included?
How about Gaterol, Kiriloff, and Jhoan Duran?
I probably do that. Sounds like a nice package. Hopefully one of them becomes a great major leaguer.
I’m fairly certain the Twins would be more interested in young, cost controlled pitching if they decided to move big time prospects…
Not sure if single A guys will get it done. Might have to be one AAA more of a sure thing guy included?