Star outfielder Mookie Betts and the Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly close to signing a 12-year contract extension, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The deal would prevent Betts from reaching free agency following the conclusion of this season.
According to Passan, the contract is for 13 years in total, including the 2020 season, and is expected to be worth more than $380 million, with an annual value of over $29 million. There have been conflicting reports about the total value of the contract, however. Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported a value of about $350 million, while USA Today’s Bob Nightengale has claimed the contract will total around $360 million.
Regardless of the value, the Dodgers have locked up one of the star players in baseball. Mookie Betts was acquired via trade back in February, coming from the Boston Red Sox. The Dodgers also acquired veteran pitcher David Price, sending away outfielder Alex Verdugo and prospect Jeter Downs.
The trade, while very popular in Los Angeles, did not go over well in Boston. Betts had become the face of the Red Sox, winning AL MVP in 2018 en route to a World Series title for Boston. However, the team was unwilling to give him a massive long-term deal, which he has now ultimately received in Los Angeles.
Betts, who is expected to be the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter this season, is one of the best overall players in baseball. The former MVP is a 4-time All-Star selection, and has won 4 Gold Glove awards in right field. He is also a career .301 hitter, with 3 Silver Slugger awards.
This is another huge move for a Dodgers team that is hungry for a championship, not having won a World Series since 1988. Los Angeles has won the NL West in seven consecutive seasons, yet have not been able to finish the deal in the postseason. This includes consecutive losses in the World Series in 2017 and 2018.
Betts joins a Dodgers core including stars such as Cody Bellinger, Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Max Muncy, and Corey Seager. In the upcoming shortened season, the team looks prepared to end their championship drought now more than ever.