Speier: Mookie's approach toward contracts has never wavered

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With Mookie Betts being eligible for free agency following the 2020 season, his contract negotiations with the Red Sox have become topic of interest.

The Globe’s Alex Speier -- author of the recently-released book "Homegrown" -- sat down with Rob Bradford on The Bradfo Sho to share some insight as to how Betts is approaching his contract.

“From the time that he signed as an amateur, which was minutes before, about 30 minutes in his case before the midnight deadline on August 15 of 2011, he has treated every business negotiation as exactly that – as one that’s not subject to sentiment,” Speier said, “And you know, he believes that it makes all the sense in the world to have the full extent of his abilities recognized financially and he’s not afraid to kind of walk that to the brink.

“So you know, what we’re seeing in terms of how he’s approaching his negotiations with the Red Sox at this point is no different than what got him to the Red Sox initially, and every financial conversation he’s had with them since.”

.@alexspeier talking his new book 'Homegrown' and Mookie Betts contract while riding in a @bostonbiketaxi pedicab. What's better? Listen to Ep. 115 at your leisure: https://t.co/mv6vh3U4LF pic.twitter.com/tg9lcB22JC

— The Bradfo Sho (@Bradfo_Sho) August 15, 2019

Betts discussed the challenge of separating the business of baseball from the love of the game and one’s teammates in a previous episode of The Bradfo Sho, explaining, “It’s one of those things you have to find a way to separate the two.”