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Red Sox moving Mookie Betts from leadoff to second slot

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Here along the Strip, the Boston Red Sox are placing their bets on a new leadoff man.

AL MVP Mookie Betts will hit second next year, a season after he led the big leagues in batting average and slugging percentage from the top spot.

Andrew Benintendi will move up a slot and hit first for the majors’ highest-scoring team, manager Alex Cora said Tuesday at the winter meetings.

“I think we’re going to maximize Mookie in a different spot. Flip-flop them, Beni leading off and Mookie hitting second. Talked to him, it makes sense,” Cora said.