Betts agrees to 12-year, $380m extension with Dodgers
Young team hope to emerge contenders
LOS ANGELES: Mookie Betts, who hasn’t played a regular-season game for the Los Angeles Dodgers, finalised terms on Wednesday on a 12-year deal, the Major League Baseball club confirmed.
The deal, reportedly worth up to US$380 million, locks in a 27-year-old US rightfielder who figures to lead a talented young squad into title contention for the next decade.
Betts played his first six MLB campaigns for Boston, helping the Red Sox capture the 2018 World Series title and earning American League Most Valuable Player honours and the AL batting title in the same season.
Betts was traded to the Dodgers in February for the final year of his contract, but then pandemic delayed the planned March start of the MLB season and there were worries Betts might never play a regular-season game for the Dodgers if the season were wiped out.
Instead, the new deal will include the 2020 season and provide Betts the second-biggest contract for any league player, trailing only the $426.5 million deal of Anaheim slugger Mike Trout.
Betts is a four-time All-Star and a four-time Gold Glove winner for his fielding skills.
The deal with Boston also brought left-handed pitcher David Price to the Dodgers in exchange for outfielder Alex Verdugo and prospects Jeter Downs and Connor Wong.
The Dodgers also have reigning National League Most Valuable Player Cody Bellinger signed through 2023 and a talented line-up that is aiming for an eighth consecutive NL West division crown in a season cut to 60 games per club due to the pandemic, all games played at home stadiums without spectators.
The Dodgers have not won the World Series since 1988 but reached the bestof-seven championship series in two of the past three seasons, losing to Houston in 2017 and Boston in 2018.
ANGELS ACE TROUT TO PLAY
Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout ended speculation about his participation in the coming baseball season on Wednesday, saying he is definitely playing despite concerns over Covid-19.
Trout, regarded as the best player in Major League Baseball, had initially expressed misgivings about the season as his wife Jessica is expecting the couple’s first child next month.
However speaking to reporters in a conference call on Wednesday, the 28-year-old eight-time All-Star drew a line under the uncertainty about his plans for the season, which starts this morning, Thai time.
“I’m playing,” said Trout as the Angels prepared to open their campaign on the road against the Oakland Athletics today.
Trout said while he remained concerned about the potential vulnerability of teams to Covid-19 as they travelled and played in coronavirus hotspots, he had been reassured by MLB safety protocols adopted by his teammates.
“The guys have been respectful of others,” Trout said.
“Everyone’s been taking responsibility to wear a mask and social distance and just be safe, and we’re seeing that. The results are there.
“Just gotta pick it up and stay on it when we go on the road. Obviously people say that traveling you can get it.
“Going to different cities where it’s really bad right now, it’s gonna be tough. But as of right now, everything is great.”
Trout plans to take time off after the birth of his son but has not firmed up details of how long he will stay away from the team.