How Nolan Arenado's massive deal impacts Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts

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It's taken forever, but baseball's marquee free agents are finally landing deals. And they're getting paid.

Nolan Arenado is the latest player to break the bank: The star third baseman has agreed to an eight-year contract with the Colorado Rockies worth $260 million, USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale reported Tuesday.

The contract, which reportedly has an opt-out after three years, would net Arenado an average of $32.5 million per year, surpassing Miguel Cabrera's record of $31 million per year for a position player.

Based on average annual value, Arenado's deal is even richer than that of Manny Machado, who will earn $30 million per year on a 10-year contract with the San Diego Padres.

What does this have to do with the Boston Red Sox? Two of their core position players, shortstop Xander Bogaerts and Mookie Betts, will hit unrestricted free agency in 2020 and 2021, respectively. And their agents surely will use the Machado and Arenado deals as leverage to earn their clients hefty paychecks.

Bogaerts will have a tough time drawing an Arenado comparison. The Rockies slugger is a four-time All-Star in his prime with four consecutive seasons of at least 37 home runs and 110 RBIs, while Bogaerts has struggled to find similar consistency. But the 26-year-old did eclipse the 100-RBI mark last season (one of only four MLB shortstops to do so) as a valuable infielder on a World Series club, and Arenado's deal could embolden him to seek a deal in, say, the $25 million-per-year range.

Betts, on the other hand, could view Arenado's pending deal as license to shoot for the moon.

After all, he's the reigning American League MVP, a year younger than Arenado (26) and has proven he can hit in any ballpark. (Betts hit .331 with 19 home runs and 39 RBI on the road last season. Arenado? .248 with 15 homers and 48 RBI.) So, why shouldn't Betts and his agent seek a deal worth well north of $32 million per year?

After Arenado's deal, a 10-year contract for Betts worth $350 or even $400 million isn't out of the question two years from now. That price tag could soar even higher depending on how much free agent Bryce Harper nets when he finally signs this year.

Betts has expressed his desire to remain in Boston, and the Red Sox's public feeling has been mutual. But the young superstar won't come cheap.

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