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Mookie will closely monitor Harper's free agency

Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images Sport / Getty

This coming offseason has been anticipated for many years, and Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts is particularly interested in how much Washington Nationals right-fielder Bryce Harper will get paid this winter.

"I'm really curious to see how it's going to play out," Betts told Rob Bradford of WEEI regarding Harper's next contract. "We'll see what kind of record he breaks. We all know what kind of player he is. I think that may affect some things going forward."

The upcoming winter is certainly going to be a formative one, with Manny Machado also eligible to sign with any team; this, after an uncharacteristically slow past offseason.

Complicating matters is the fact that Harper - despite being one of baseball's most electric and marketable stars - is having a tough season. Over 94 games, the 25-year-old slugger is posting a .214/.365/.468 slash line with 23 homers and six stolen bases.

Meanwhile, Betts is on a torrid pace and would be the favorite to win American League MVP if he didn't play in the Mike Trout era. In 78 games, the right fielder leads all of baseball with a 1.139 OPS.

Betts, 25, is still under team control through the 2020 season, with two more years of arbitration eligibility. Adding intrigue, the current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire after the 2021 season; one year after Betts enters free agency.

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