*Photo from the Los Angeles Times*
Boy oh boy. Mookie Betts just got paid. Betts and the Dodgers have finalized a massive extension that will likely make him a Dodger for life. WEEI's Lou Merloni first broke the news of talks taking place. Inital reports had Betts nearing a 10 year extension worth at least $350 million, but now the deal is for 12 years and $365 million.
Betts is expected to become the second highest paid player in baseball, behind fellow MVP Mike Trout. Betts' deal certainly doesn't prove that the free agent market will take a hit in terms of salary, which makes people wonder if they started discussing an extension in spring training in February/March, before MLB paused daily operations due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Betts also becomes the 6th player guaranteed $300 million with this extension.
Last season, Betts hit .295 with 29 homers and 80 RBI in 150 games played with the Boston Red Sox. In his career, Betts is a .301 hitter with 139 homers and 470 RBI and 794 games played in 6 major league seasons with the Red Sox. Betts also won the AL MVP in 2018. After making multiple long term extension offers to Betts, which he turned down, the Red Sox traded him to the Dodgers in February along with David Price for Alex Verdugo, Jeter Downs, and Connor Wong.
Betts was scheduled to hit free agency at the end of the season, and prior to joining the Dodgers, he seemed determined to test the free agent market at the end of the season, and with this extension, in terms of both term and salary, it seems the Dodgers were determined to keep Betts a Dodger for life. A 4 time All Star, 4 time Gold Glove winner, MVP winner, and World Series champion certainly deserves a payday, which Betts just got.
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