Mookie Betts made his Boston Red Sox debut in 2014 and since then he has been a four-time All-Star and was named the American League MVP in 2018.

Betts is going to command a potentially record-breaking contract next offseason and a comparison with one of the greatest hitters of all time brings some clarity as to why.

Younger MLB fans may only know Barry Bonds from the latter half of his career in San Francisco, which was marred by allegations of PED use. However, before that, Bonds was an MVP-caliber player with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

That makes Betts' numbers to this point that much more impressive. He has a better batting average, slugging percentage, has hit more home runs, and driven in more runs than Bonds in this age-23 to age-26 comparison. Both players each won an MVP award in this timeframe as well.

That is why the price tag for one year of Betts remains so high.

Bonds left Pittsburgh after his age-27 season and became a superstar in San Francisco. Betts is entering his age-27 season and may see a similar jump in star power in a new home if he keeps up his current pace.