Outfielder Mookie Betts is getting a one-year, $27 million deal from the Boston Red Sox in a record agreement to avoid arbitration, a source told ESPN’s Jeff Passan on Friday.
The amount breaks the arbitration record of $26 million, set by Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado last offseason.
Outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. and the Red Sox are also in agreement on a one-year, $11 million deal, a source familiar with the agreement told Passan.
Betts, who will be a free agent after the 2020 season, hit .295 with 29 home runs and 80 RBIs last season. He also led the AL with 135 runs scored.
The 27-year-old Betts, a homegrown talent that led the team to its World Series championship in 2018, made $27.7 million in 2019 — the highest figure ever awarded in arbitration.
Selected by Boston in the fifth round of the 2011 draft, Betts is a career .301 hitter with an .893 OPS. Since making his major league debut in June 2014, Betts has led the major leagues in runs scored (613), is second in extra-base hits (394) and fourth in hits (965). He also has led the Red Sox in home runs (139) and is second in RBIs (470) during that span.
Three times, Betts has hit three home runs in a game — more than any other MLB player since 2014.
Betts, who plays half his games in Fenway Park’s notoriously difficult outfield, has won four consecutive Gold Gloves, putting him in elite company. In 2019, he had a 15 defensive runs saved (DRS) rating, the best among AL right fielders, and he had the best fielding percentage of all right fielders (.997).
Betts led the majors with a .346 batting average, a .640 slugging percentage and 129 runs scored en route to the MVP award in 2018. He also won Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards.
He also has a runner-up finish in AL MVP balloting to his credit, finishing behind Trout in 2016 after hitting .318 with 31 homers, 26 stolen bases and 214 hits.
Bradley, who is set to be a free agent after the 2020 season, hit .225 with 21 home runs and 62 RBIs in 2019 while making $8.55 million.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.