By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
The Boston Red Sox have avoided arbitration with their 2018 American League MVP Mookie Betts. The Red Sox will pay him $20 million during the 2019 season.
This is a huge increase for Betts, who made $10.5 million during the 2018 campaign. In addition, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, he can receive another $400,000 in incentives.
This is nearly double his salary as a reward for winning the MVP and helping the Red Sox to another World Series title. Boston dispatched the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games to win the 2018 World Series.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, this is just the fourth-time that eligible players, who is a second-time eligible player, has exceeded $20 million. His $20 million salary, according to Passan, that’s higher than every second-time or third-time eligible players and pitchers.
The 26-year-old Nashville, Tennessee native has spent his entire career with the Red Sox. He had a career-best season with .346 batting average with 32 home runs and 80 RBIs in 136 games.
He also had 47 doubles and five triples on 180 hits in 520 at-bats. He also scored a career-best 129 runs.
