The Los Angeles Dodgers are nearing a potential 13-year, $380 million investment in right fielder Mookie Betts, who could receive the long-term extension soon, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. The deal, which could be agreed upon as soon as Wednesday, had been initially reported at upwards of $350 million, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network.
Lou Merloni of WEII Radio, who first reported the interest in the extension on Wednesday morning, calculated the deal could be between $350-400 million. That would come close to rivaling Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout, who signed a 12-year, $426.5 million contract extension last year.
Back in January, Merloni reported that the Boston Red Sox offered Betts a 10-year, $300 million deal in the 2019 offseason and his agent countered with 12 years and $420 million — a number all too similar to Trout, who has been long touted the best at his position.
Betts was traded to the Dodgers in the offseason, but he could hit the market as soon as this truncated 2020 season comes to an end.
“The market will be what the market will be. Cross that bridge when we get there,” he told reporters earlier this month.
Already a four-time All-Star and the AL MVP in 2018, Betts is ripe for the taking at 27, the same age Trout was when he signed his mega-deal with the Angels.
The money alone supersedes what the Red Sox were willing to offer by a cool $80 million, which could be much more than what most major leaguers make throughout their career.
Betts is an elite leadoff hitter with raw power, speed, and great technical ability to hit the ball all over the park. Couple that with four Gold Gloves in right field and three Silver Slugger awards and the Tennessee native could have a hefty contract on his hands this week, ready to sign in the dotted line.
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