ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Mookie Betts appears determined to test free agency following the 2020 season. But that does not mean he doesn’t enjoy playing for the Boston Red Sox.

The superstar said any assertions he doesn’t like it in Boston or doesn’t want to be in Boston are inaccurate.

“It’s completely wrong,” Betts told MassLive.com on Monday at Tropicana Field. “I’ve loved it here. I love the front office, my teammates, coaches. Everybody. It’s been nothing but amazing here. Just because you go to free agency doesn’t mean you don’t want to be somewhere. It’s just a part of the business."

He knows some people have interpreted his desire to test free agency as disliking it in Boston.

“I’ve never said that," he said. "I’ve always said I loved it here. It’s been amazing to me, my family. It’s ... like a home to me. It’s been all I know. And just because you exercise something in the business, that doesn’t mean I don’t like it.”

The Red Sox begin a 14-game stretch Monday here at Tropicana Field that consists of games only vs. the Rays and Yankees who both sit ahead of Boston in the AL East standings.

Boston plays six games vs. the Rays (three here, three at Fenway Park). The Sox play four games at Fenway vs. New York and four games at Yankee Stadium.

This stretch likely will determine whether the Red Sox are buyers or sellers at the July 31 trade deadline.

Has Betts thought about the possibility he could be traded this coming offseason or before July 31 if Boston doesn’t play better?

“Yes and no,” Betts said. “I think that’s a part of it. There’s nothing I can do about it. I have to go out and put on my uniform every day. And if that time comes, that time comes. But right now I’m here, and I’m enjoying my time here. It’s above my pay grade.”

Betts won the 2018 AL MVP, but he’s experiencing a down season — at least for him — this year. He still ranks third on the team in WAR (3.6) behind only Xander Bogaerts (4.6) and Rafael Devers (4.0), per Fangraphs.com. He also ranks 22nd in the majors in WAR.

“There were a lot of inconsistencies early,” Betts said. “Losing games, all those things kind of amplify it. I’m obviously still not where I want to be. But I am working to get there and trying to help us win games.”

The Red Sox just lost two of three games in Baltimore against the Orioles, who are tied for last in the majors in winning percentage (.316) with Detroit. But Betts isn’t frustrated by the inconsistency compared a year ago when the Red Sox won a franchise record 108 regular season games. He views it as a new challenge the team has to meet.

“I wouldn’t say I’m frustrated,” Betts said. “That’s just a part of the season. Last year was an amazing year. Just like I may not be able to have that type of MVP season every year, well, how many teams have amazing seasons like that every year? So this year has new challenges that we have to go about and accept it.

“It’s new challenges,” Betts added. “It not necessarily frustrating. It’s just you kind of have to go about the hand that you’re dealt.”

Betts is excited about Bogaerts’ strong season. Betts said last September that Bogaerts has “the most power on the team.”

Bogaerts’ 21 homers this season already is just two homers behind his career high of 23 in 2018. He’s on pace for 34 home runs.

“I saw that (power) a long time ago when he was in the minors,” Betts said. “It was just a matter of him kind of learning how to use it or him deciding to use it. Yeah, that was something that was obvious a long time ago.”