Mookie Betts signed a record-setting 12-year contract extension on this day in Los Angeles Dodgers history. The Dodgers announced the agreement just after 2 p.m. PT on July 22, 2020.
Betts signed an extension with the Dodgers just over four months after he was acquired in a trade with the Boston Red Sox. That drawn-out saga sent David Price to the Dodgers as well, with Alex Verdugo, and prospects Jeter Downs and Connor Wong getting traded to the Red Sox.
Boston also included cash considerations to help pay for roughly half of Price’s remaining $96 million salary at the time.
The blockbuster trade was completed in large part to the Red Sox not believing Betts would re-sign with the team due to reportedly rejecting multiple contract extension offers in 2019.
“My mindset is we couldn’t be more excited to have Mookie in 2020,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said after the introductory press conference for Betts and Price. “We obviously know his team control is up after 2020.
“We’re hoping that he falls in love with the team, the city, the fans, and wants to be here for a long time. We’re really happy to have both guys and doing everything we can to get camp started on the right foot and see where that takes us.”
After signing Betts to the longterm deal, Friedman said, “Today is obviously a very exciting day for the Dodgers organization as well as all of our incredible fans. I think when you’re making an investment of this magnitude, you’re not just betting on a player’s ability. You’re also betting on the person.
“With that, we couldn’t be more comfortable than to make that bet on Mookie Betts. Obviously he’s an extraordinary talent. Mookie can impact the game in every facet, but I think that’s really stood out to us in our couple months being around him is the work ethic and the burning desire to get better on a daily basis.
“I think the tone he will set and that standard for the young players that are in our clubhouse now and also the ones that will come up in the future, will leave an indelible mark on this organization. We couldn’t be more excited.”
Mookie Betts contract extension details
Combined with the one year and $27 million that was on the deal Betts played out in 2020, his contract extension brought the total commitment from the Dodgers to 13 years and $392 million. Betts’ contract topped the previous extension record of $360 million signed by Mike Trout, and included a record $65 million signing bonus
At the time, the contract additionally put Betts in a group of players that includes Trout ($426.5 million), Bryce Harper ($330 million), Giancarlo Stanton ($325 million), Gerrit Cole ($324 million) and Manny Machado ($300 million) as players who signed for at least $300 million in MLB history.
Betts’ contract with the Dodgers includes deferred salaries that has the team due to pay him into 2044.
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