It’s looking more and more like Mookie Betts will not be in a Red Sox jersey come Opening Day. Former teammate David Ortiz doesn’t see it going any other way.

“Here’s the thing,” Ortiz told NBC Boston. “My boy Mookie is at the stage of his career where he has to get what he deserves. The Red Sox, we have a very high payroll and I don’t think our owner wants to go past that.

“I trade him. I will get young talent [and] you will get whatever you want with Mookie. Unfortunately, that’s the baseball business.”

Boston’s 2020 payroll is projected to be $228 million. Moving Betts — who is set to make $27 million this season in his final year before free agency — in exchange for prospects would move the franchise under the $208 million luxury-tax threshold, resetting its tax rate for the next year it goes over.

Ortiz said Betts, who has enjoyed a decorated six-year tenure in Boston, is the most exciting player to watch in the league and someone the Red Sox ideally would not like to lose. However, Betts has been transparent about how he views his free agency and reportedly turned down a $300 million extension offer from Boston last year. Betts is reportedly seeking a deal in the $400 million range, and Ortiz was confident the Red Sox front office would not go to that level.

Betts, whom Ortiz referred to as his “little brother,” is apparently drawing heavy trade interest from the Dodgers and the Padres. The Boston Globe described it as a “two-team race” for the four-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glover and three-time Silver Slugger.

“I could talk to you about Mookie forever,” Ortiz said. “But the reality is, business-wise, this is going to be his last year [under contract].”