The Los Angeles Dodgers and outfielder Mookie Betts agreed to a 12-year, $365 million contract extension on Wednesday.
What We Know:
- Betts had a one year worth $27 million left on his current deal. This extension keeps Betts a Dodger and prevents him from hitting free agency this winter. “I just love being here. I love everything about here. I’m here to win some rings and bring championships back to LA. That’s all I’m focused on,” Betts said about the extension. The Dodgers have not won a World Series since 1988.
- The Dodgers acquired Betts from the Boston Red Sox in a trade in February. The blockbuster trade landed LA only one guaranteed year of Betts, unclear if he would sign with the team in free agency. Before the coronavirus pandemic, it was obvious that Betts could sign a lucrative deal with any team he wanted, but the pandemic left the league’s financial future unclear.
- Dodgers President Andrew Friedman said re-signing Betts was the team’s top priority. “It was something we really wanted to do . . . We were hopeful that he’d get here, fall in love with it, go out there and win a bunch of games,” Friedman said. Friedman and Betts’ representation began discussing potential deals back in March. Boston Red Sox President Sam Kennedy commented on the extension saying it was unfortunate a deal wasn’t completed while Betts was in Boston. Boston fans were furious with the team for trading away one of the best players in baseball instead of paying him.
Sam Kennedy said Red Sox had "mixed emotions" about Mookie Betts' deal. "I'd be less than honest if I didn't say there was a sense of disappointment, closure and finality to it."
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) July 23, 2020
- Before acquiring Betts, the Dodgers were a National League powerhouse. They made the World Series in 2017 and 2018, losing both times. They again looked like contenders in 2019, breaking the National League record for most home runs and breaking their own franchise record for most wins. However, the Dodgers faltered in the postseason and lost in the Division Series to the eventual World Series Champion Washington Nationals. With Betts on the team long term, the Dodgers are poised for a successful future and are in a better position to win a World Series.
- Betts is one of the brightest stars in baseball. He’s won four Golden Gloves, an American League MVP, and a World Series Championship with the Red Sox in 2018. According to ESPN, Betts has four straight seasons with at least 100 runs, 40 doubles, and 20 home runs, which ties him for the longest such streak with Robinson Cano and Albert Pujols.
The extension brings his total contract value to $392 million over 13 years, the second most expensive contract in MLB history behind Mike Trout’s $360 million.
