The Boston Red Sox have been a very successful franchise in the 2000s. Since enduring an 86-year World Series drought, which the team ended with their championship win in 2004, Boston has secured three more World Series titles, thanks to a knack for developing young talents. One such talent, Mookie Betts, authored an incredible MVP season back in 2018 en route to a World Series title. Betts, who was once the team's top-rated prospect, came up in Boston's farm system, though the team opted not to pay him when his price tag entered superstar territory. The talented outfielder was eventually traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who paid him a monster 12-year, $365 million extension. Fast forward a few years and the Red Sox have two more homegrown stars, Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts, who are desiring contract extensions. Devers and Bogaerts are among baseball's best at their respective positions and are integral to Boston's success. Yet, reports have surfaced saying that the Red Sox are far apart from both Devers and Bogaerts when it comes to their respective extensions. Sound familiar, Red Sox fans?

Back in the 2020 offseason, Betts and the Red Sox were talking about a possible extension for the superstar outfielder, who had done all he could to prove that he was one of baseball's premier outfield talents. Boston reportedly offered $300 million, a lucrative offer for almost any player. Betts, who was seeking a major payday, turned down the offer. He eventually got an extra $365 million with the Dodgers following his trade.

Ahead of the 2022 season, Boston spoke with both Devers' and Bogaerts' parties about new contracts. Devers, who has a year left on his deal, and Bogaerts, who has an opt-out after this year, both want to be paid after helping the Red Sox field one of the league's most imposing offenses. However, Boston is rumored to be nearly $100 million off of Devers' asking price. To make matters worse, Boston seems reluctant to pay Bogaerts either, who reportedly had a close friend characterize Boston's offer as a “slap in the face.” It's deja vu all over again in Boston.

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While the Red Sox may be hesitant to pay Bogaerts a big deal because of their signing of Trevor Story, who is also a shortstop, it still doesn't excuse their apparent indifference to the requests of players who have meant a great deal to their franchise.

Whether Betts wanted to be in Boston or not, the fact that the Red Sox wouldn't pay him what he wanted suggests only that they are unwilling to go the extra mile for their franchise guys, regardless of the actual reason. That's how the Boston media and fans will see it. And guess what? If the Red Sox fail to sign Devers and Bogaerts to extensions and they lose two more valuable players, that's the way people will see this situation, too.

The Red Sox may think they can't afford to pay up for Devers and Bogaerts. What they really can't afford is to pull another Mookie Betts with Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts.