Two of the Red Sox' best young players -- Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts -- are in completely different situations when it comes to their futures.
Bogaerts signed a six-year, $120 million extension earlier this season, while Betts settled in arbitration for $20 million and will not become a free agent until the end of next season.
Speaking to reporters at the MLB All-Star Game in Cleveland on Monday, Betts acknowledged he thinks about his next contract, but knows there's nothing he can do about it now.
"You think about it, but it's just a thought and it goes in the past," he said. "You have to take care of your business. It's going to come. No matter what you do, it's going to come, so don't rush it."
Betts added: "There's no talk. Once the season starts, there's no more of that talk. I'm just focused on the rest of the year."
The right fielder isn't having as good of a season as last when he was the American League MVP. Betts is hitting .272 with 13 home runs, 40 RBIs, and an .859 OPS. As a contrast, last year at this time he was batting .359 with 23 homers, 51 RBIs.
Betts' desire to remain in Boston remains unclear, but if the Red Sox want to keep him around it seems they will need to dish out quite a bit of money.
Time will tell.
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