Update, 9:51 a.m.: MLB Network’s Jon Heyman is on board the confirmation train, saying that the number is reportedly $350 million. No confirmation on how many years though, although it seems apparent that we should know soon enough.
Betts and Dodgers are indeed talking about a mega deal for about $350M and talks are progressing. @LouMerloni 1st
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 22, 2020
Update, 9:01 a.m.: Here’s a touch from the West Coast now, as LA Times Dodgers beat writer Jorge Castillo confirms the rumor that originated from Lou Merloni.
I can confirm that the #Dodgers and Mookie Betts are closing in on a contract extension, per source, as first reported by @LouMerloni.
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) July 22, 2020
Update, 8:58 a.m.: The rumor has now gone national as ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan has confirmed that the two sides are deep in their negotiations over a contract extension.
Star outfielder Mookie Betts and the Los Angeles Dodgers are deep into negotiations on a long-term contract, sources tell ESPN. While the language of the deal is not completed, the expectation is that Betts will be signing a massive deal with the Dodgers in the coming days.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 22, 2020
Dodger fans have waited a long time to see which player their team would shell out a big, long-term contract for, and a report from a credible NBC Boston baseball analyst says that the player may be Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts.
Lou Merloni of NBC Sports Boston tweeted this morning that the deal may come to fruition in the next couple of days, and would be for 10-plus years in a range in between $350 and $400 million:
Sorry @Jared_Carrabis your dream scenario may come to an end within the next couple days, I’m told. Mookie will remain in LA for a very very long time. 10+ yrs for BIG $$. Between 350-400. @WEEI @OMFonWEEI
— Lou Merloni (@LouMerloni) July 22, 2020
Three weeks ago a regular season was just speculation, and many fans wondered if the Dodgers had traded away top prospect and outfielder Alex Verdugo to the Boston Red Sox for nothing since Betts is scheduled to be a free agent at the close of what should have been the 2020 season with or without baseball to be played. Pitcher David Price, traded to the Dodgers alongside Betts, also announced that he would be sitting out the 2020 season to protect his family’s health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Betts, 27, hit .295/.391/.524 with 29 home runs, 80 RBIs, stole 16 out of 19 bases and scored a career-high 135 runs in 150 games in Boston.
His 162-game average totals out to a .301/.374/.519 line with 28 home runs, 96 RBIs, 125 runs scored and 26 stolen bases across his six seasons in Boston.
In Spring Training he hit just .238/.261/.286 with an RBI, stolen base and two runs scored in 21 at-bats across eight games.
In two exhibition games against the Diamondbacks earlier this week, he went 3-for-6 with a home run, RBI, three runs scored and a walk. He did not play in Tuesday night’s exhibition contest against the Angels.
The deal to get Betts also included shortstop Jeter Downs, another of the team’s top prospects, and catcher Connor Wong, also getting the Red Sox to take on a chunk of Price’s contract.
Betts is slated to be the Opening Day starter in right field, atop the Dodgers’ lineup in Thursday’s contest against the Giants and Johnny Cueto.
With the aforementioned pandemic going on, it was questioned if the free agency market would be impacted by the hit of the economy. If this rumor is true, Betts clearly will not be affected.
Other names slated to hit free agency include: Justin Turner, Joc Pederson, Blake Treinen of the Dodgers, and names such as J.T. Realmuto of the Phillies, George Springer of the Astros and Corey Kluber of the Rangers.
Could we see more extensions get signed ahead of free agency?
The thing about Betts is that he has a very calm demeanor, and likes to focus on what he’s doing. In his introductory press conference with the Dodgers, he said he wanted to focus on where he was living before even thinking about signing an extension with his new team.
It appears that he’s found a place to live.
If for any reason there are any doubters, the type of player you are getting in Betts off the field is just as dynamic as the one you see on the field. In May he bought everybody’s groceries in Tennessee.
Cool! @mookiebetts surprised shoppers at the Kroger in Bordeaux, TN by buying their groceries. The former Overton Bobcat and current LA Dodgers OF also treated the staff at the store to pizza to thank them for all the hard work they have been doing as essential front-line workers pic.twitter.com/gGcXDkWSMV
— Chris Harris (@ChrisHarrisWSMV) May 13, 2020
Also, in case you didn’t know, he has shot a perfect 300 game (12 strikes in a row) in a professional bowling event before.
Perfect on the field, off the field and on the bowling lanes too.
Stay tuned for an official announcement regarding the extension of Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts.