FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Mookie Betts is two years from qualifying for free agency and has avoided contract extension talks while preferring to go year-by-year, said Thursday that he'd be happy to stay with the Red Sox for the remainder of his career.
"Yeah, if everything works out well,'' said Betts. "I love this place, I love Boston. We'll just have to see how it goes.''
Betts and the Red Sox settled on a $20-million deal for 2019 on the day salary arbitration figures were to be exchanged, has rebuffed attempts by the Red Sox to try to work out a long-term extension that would keep him off the free agent market in 2020-2021.
Two years ago, he was renewed by the Red Sox when the two sides could negotiate a salary for 2017 and last offseason, he beat the Red Sox in an arbitration hearing.
The $20-million settlement for 2019 was viewed by some as an encouraging sign in that it required compromise by both sides and hinted that they could work further toward a longer deal.
Betts has noted that such deals are "tough to do.''
It's believed that Betts and his representatives are waiting to see what sort of contracts are signed by current free agents Manny Machado and Bryce Harper before assessing his value on the open market.
Red Sox president Sam Kennedy has said Betts is precisely the kind of player the Red Sox want to have spend his entire career with the franchise.
Speaking generally about his future plans, Betts noted "you have to be patient and let it happen.''
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