5 players who won’t be back with the Boston Red Sox in 2020

1. OF Mookie Betts

With Betts, where there’s smoke there’s probably fire. He has been clear with his intention to maximize his value on the free agent market after the 2020 season, and he’s due for a final arbitration raise from the $20 million he’s making this year. Trade rumors have surfaced, with reports before and after Dombrowski’s dismissal that the Red Sox will entertain trade offers for the best player on the team.

If Boston wants to restock a flailing farm system, trading the 2018 American League MVP would be the big move to do so. A new lead executive who’s replacing Dombrowski may hesitate to make that kind of move before he has even warmed his own seat, but with Betts set to get a huge, perhaps record-setting contract, any mandate from above to shed payroll now and in the future almost has to include the star outfielder.

Betts reportedly turned down an eight-year, $200 million contract extension from the Red Sox after the 2017 season, and with Tom Werner’s comments it doesn’t appear talks are moving very well right now with the price of poker moving a lot higher.

"We have made proposals to him in the past and he did want to test free agency, which is his right,” Red Sox chairman Tom Werner said. “And we’ll have some conversations with him going forward. But obviously there will be a point where hopefully we can make a deal. Or we’ll decide at that point what is Plan B or Plan C? But we haven’t gotten to that point. And we’re very open to continuing the discussions with him."

Better to get something notable for Betts in the offseason rather than wait, let him go and get nothing beyond a compensatory draft pick after next season. A trade would be a bold move, and it would draw plenty of ire from fans. But there will be a market for Betts if the Red Sox are open to a deal. Trading him would a signal to the rest of the roster that no one is untouchable in the right circumstance.