Mookie Betts has officially committed to the Los Angeles Dodgers for more than a decade, and he's going to make an extraordinary amount of money to play in Southern California.
The Dodgers announced Wednesday that Betts has signed a 12-year contract extension with the team through the 2032 season. Betts was entering the 2020 season on a one-year contract and eligible for unrestricted free agency in the offseason.
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The team didn't announce the financial terms of the deal, but ESPN's Jeff Passan reported it's worth $365 million and includes $65 million in signing bonus. If you include Betts' salary for the upcoming season, the superstar outfielder will make just short of $400 million over the next 13 years.
https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1286042568875282432
It's unclear how the COVID-19 pandemic will impact revenue for the Dodgers and Major League Baseball as a whole over the next few years, but as one of the wealthiest teams in the sport, L.A. is one of the few clubs that could take this risk. Betts' extension is the richest in MLB history, surpassing the $360 million pact Mike Trout signed with the Los Angeles Angels last year.
The Dodgers acquired Betts and starting pitcher David Price in a blockbuster trade with the Boston Red Sox in February. Los Angeles sent prospects Connor Wong and Jeter Downs, as well as outfielder Alex Verdugo to Boston in the deal.
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Betts played six seasons with the Red Sox and helped the franchise win a World Series title over the Dodgers in 2018. He also won the 2018 American League MVP award, in addition to four All-Star appearances, an AL batting title and four Gold Glove Awards, among other accomplishments during his time in Boston.
The Red Sox made an effort to sign Betts, but the two sides weren't able to come to an agreement. Betts told reporters earlier this month that he didn't regret turning down a $300 million extension from the Red Sox. Many people predicted Betts would ultimately go to free agency, but that is no longer needed after the Dodgers made a massive financial commitment to him.