It appears that All-Star right fielder Mookie Betts will commit his future to LA Dodgers without playing a single game with the franchise. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the two sides are close to finalizing a “massive deal” in the upcoming days.
NBC Sports’ Lou Merloni also reported that sources close to the situation told him Betts will sign on 10 or more years. The overall value of the deal is expected to be from $350 million to $400 million.
Mookie Betts previously rejected the $300 million offer from Boston Red Sox offered him early in the year, after which he was traded to Dodgers. The 27-year-old all-star initially intended to play out his deal in LA and hit the free agency next year, but it appears he changed his plans in the meantime.
If the reported numbers check out, the deal represents a big coup for Betts. It was previously projected that he’ll need to take a pay cut due to financial difficulties caused by coronavirus pandemic and that he might lose around $100 million.
Betts spent the previous six years of his MLB career in Boston. He won a World Series with Red Sox in 2018, while winning the AL MVP Award in the same year.
Betts, who is four-time All-Star, has a .301 career batting average alongside 139 home runs, 470 RBIs, and 126 stolen bases.
