Mookie Betts, Red Sox avoid arbitration with $20M contract for 2019

Mookie Betts and the Boston Red Sox have found common ground.

The Red Sox and Betts avoided arbitration ahead of Friday's 1 p.m. ET deadline by agreeing to a $20 million contract for 2019, a source confirmed to NBC Sports Boston's Evan Drellich.

FanCred's Jon Heyman was the first to report the deal.

Betts' deal includes $400,000 in added incentives, according to USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale.

Mookie Betts gets $20 million from the #Redsox with 400k worth of potential awards, which he usually reaches
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 11, 2019

The 26-year-old outfielder is nearly doubling the $10.5 million he earned last season in his second arbitration-eligible year. As MLB.com's Ian Browne notes, this is the first year Betts and the Red Sox have avoided an arbitration hearing.

Mookie contract agreement is significant because the Red Sox were unable to agree to terms with him in last two offseasons.
— Ian Browne (@IanMBrowne) January 11, 2019

The three-time All-Star certainly proved his worth in 2018, though, posting a .346 batting average with 32 home runs and 80 RBIs to win the American League MVP award and help Boston capture its ninth World Series title.

MORE RED SOX: How Boston tried to lower Betts' salary in 2018 arbitration

Betts is in his second year of arbitration and will become an unrestricted free agent in 2021, where he should be in line for a hefty payday.

Mookie Betts could be first player to earn in excess of $400 or $500 million in two years when he hits free agency
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 11, 2019

Betts is the fifth of 12 arbitration-eligible Red Sox players to agree to terms before the 1 p.m. ET deadline.

Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Celtics easily on your device.