Boston Red Sox president Sam Kennedy says that the club has not yet engaged outfielder Mookie Betts in contract extension talks, saying that the two sides will “have conversations at the appropriate time,” according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com.
Betts' future in Boston has been a hot topic of discussion throughout much of 2019.
The 2018 American League MVP is about to enter his final year of club control in 2020, and Betts has said that he plans on testing the free-agent market when the time comes next offseason.
That would not cause a problem for the Red Sox in and of itself, but the issue is that Boston is strapped for cash.
Thanks to J.D. Martinez opting into the remaining three years and $62.5 million of his contract, the Red Sox are now $28 million over the luxury tax threshold, which many have speculated could result in them exploring the trade market for Betts this winter.
Obviously, that is something Boston would prefer not to do, but given its current salary situation, it may have no other choice.
Betts is coming off of a 2019 campaign in which he slashed .295/.391/.524 with 29 home runs, 40 doubles and 80 RBI over 706 plate appearances, and while that was well off of his 2018 production, it's still an elite-level output which, combined with his defensive prowess, makes him one of the best outfielders in the game.
The 27-year-old came up with the Red Sox in 2014 and has made four All-Star teams while winning one World Series.
He owns a lifetime slash line of .301/.374/.519.
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