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Boston Red Sox superstar RF Mookie Betts is a free agent after next season and is so far refusing to sign an extension, it’s risky to let him hit the open market, so could Boston trade Betts? And if so what package could they receive? I’m going to look at teams that I think could be potential matches in a trade and say who I think they would be willing to trade for him.

1. ATLANTA BRAVES

Atlanta almost certainly won’t be able to re-sign Betts after next season, but may consider him for a chance to win the World Series next season. The issue is that Boston would probably want pitching, and while Atlanta has seemingly plenty of starters, they’re mostly top prospects and Boston would probably prefer “win now” pieces. Still, would the likes of Max Fried, Sean Newcomb and Touki Toussaint interest Boston in some type of package of starters? Perhaps some pitching prospects could be added in the deal as well. The question is whether Atlanta would want to do this for just one year of Betts when adding him might not necessarily put them over the top.

2. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

They could use Betts in center field, and do have a bunch of arms, but they need pitching badly themselves and don’t have as much quality to offer as Atlanta. That said they do have hitting, if Boston wants that instead. I feel as if they will pursue Betts if he’s available, but am not sure on the return package that would go to Boston.

3. LOS ANGELES DODGERS

They can offer the likes of Dustin May and Julio Urias and add an impact bat that could push them over the top. They can also re-sign him in free agency. I think that they may be the likeliest team to acquire him if he’s made available as they could use him in right field. This would allow them to move Cody Bellinger from right field to first base and Max Muncy from first base to second base.

4. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

Betts is from Nashville, which is close to St. Louis, which means that he could be interested in re-signing with the team when he becomes a free agent. He also would be a great replacement for Marcell Ozuna in the out field. St. Louis even has pitching to trade: a package including the likes of Miles Mikolas, Dakota Hudson and Daniel Ponce De Leon. They could even dangle Carlos Martinez. Tyler O’Neill could be in play too and Boston could unload David Price on a team previously interested in him potentially as well.

5. CHICAGO WHITE SOX

They could use note hitting and were willing to trade for Manny Machado in his contract year despite not being contenders. I could see them wanting to acquire Betts for this reason as well. They have some Major League ready arms such as Michael Kopech, Dylan Cease and Reynaldo Lopez and sone could all be a part of the package going to Boston. They also have good hitting prospects that they might be willing to dangle in a package as well, and might even take Price on too.

6. NEW YORK METS

They see themselves as contenders and need a center fielder. Would Brandon Nimmo or Edwin Diaz (who is a change of scenery candidate) be in play?

In conclusion, Betts isn’t loyal to Boston as he refuses to sign an extension and the Red Sox can still contend without him, so why risk losing him to a higher bidder (it only takes one team to overpay) for a draft pick, when you can get a better return now?