Tag: Mookie Betts

MLB world reacts to Mookie Betts’ record-breaking $365M extension with the Dodgers

Mookie Betts just signed the biggest extension in MLB history.

Mookie Betts is going to be a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers for way more than just 60 games as he signed a 12-year extension with the team on Wednesday that is worth a reported $365 million, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan. That, along with the $27 million he will make this season, means he’s just under the $400 million mark with LA.

That also means that Boston Red Sox fans, who for some reason held out hope that he’d return with a free agent deal after this season, are sad because Mookie isn’t coming back to Boston any time soon.

The Dodgers have a ridiculously talented team this season and now for likely many years to come with the second best player in MLB locked in for the next 13 years.

Here are the details on the record-breaking extension:

The MLB world had reactions:

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2020 National League MVP odds, picks and best bets

Previewing the National League Most Valuable Player MVP odds, with MLB betting odds, picks and best bets

Unlike in the American League, where it’s Mike Trout against the field, the competition for the 2020 National League MVP is wide open — to the point that one pick ain’t enough, Jack. You better make it three.

As of 3 p.m. ET Sunday, March 8, BetMGM has 13 different players listed at +3000 or less:

  • Mookie Betts (+500)
  • Cody Bellinger (+700)
  • Christian Yelich (+800)
  • Juan Soto; Ronald Acuna Jr. (+1000)
  • Nolan Arenado (+1600)
  • Fernando Tatis Jr.; Bryce Harper; Manny Machado (+2000)
  • Javier Baez; Kris Bryant; Freddie Freeman (+2500)
  • Ketel Marte (+3000)

National League MVP: Breaking down the field

The first thing that jumps out is that two Dodgers outfielders top the list. Personally, I would lean to Bellinger over Betts because Betts is a career American Leaguer and has to learn many new pitchers. Dodgers dominance has become expected and the two may end up canceling each other out, barring a gigantic season from one of them.

What I’m looking for (and often find) is a guy who is head and shoulders the best player on his team, reinforcing the notion that “valuable” means where would that team be without that guy? It also helps greatly to be a playoff team — or at least a playoff contender into the finals weeks of the season. For our purposes, I’m giving myself a $500 bankroll and splitting it three ways (wait for it).

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I’m putting $150 on Yelich at +800. Entering his seventh season as a full-time starter, Yelich last season hit 44 home runs, drove in 97 runs, stole 30 bases and hit .329 to win his second straight batting title. And he did all of that in in just 130 games. He may not get quite the national attention that some other stars do, but he has MVP potential (and the 2018 MVP Award on his mantle), and a lot of times it takes a couple years of dominance to get deserved recognition. He fits well in that category. At +800, the value coming back is right.

I’m putting $150 on Acuna at +1000. Entering his third season, he has set the table for superstardom and a mid-nine-figure contract at some point. It’s not easy for a leadoff hitter to win MVP because his numbers suffer in terms of consistently having men on base when he comes up. But in his second MLB season in 2019, Acuna led the NL in plate appearances (715) runs scored (127) and stolen bases (37). And, by the way, he hit 41 bombs and had 101 RBI, anyway. If he drops his 2019 strikeout total (188) by 40, it means he makes contact 40 more times and the numbers will follow.

I’m putting $150 on Harper at +2000. He’s only a career .276 hitter and has posted — by far — the highest strikeout totals of his career in each of the last two seasons. But he has missed just eight of 324 games over the last two seasons and no player in baseball rides a hot streak longer than Harper. He’s Player of the Month material often. He’s +2000 for a reason, but a good dice roll at that altitude.

THE BET: Do a three-way parlay covering spots with Yelich, Acuna and Harper. However, our roll still has $50 left. How about throwing it the way of the gold standard Paul Goldschmidt? He has established himself as a mid-30 HR guy, but he is primed for blowing those out of the water. Over the last five years, he has played 791 of a possible 810 games. At +4000, he’s worth a chip-and-a-chair.

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Why the Mookie Betts blockbuster fell apart and what could happen next

It’s probably still going to happen. Maybe.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Boston Red Sox had agreed upon a blockbuster to send outfielder Mookie Betts and David Price to L.A. in a three-team trade with the Minnesota Twins, according to multiple reports.

But that mega-deal fell apart this weekend, per multiple reports.

The Red Sox received the medical documentation for Twins right-hander Brusdar Graterol and Dodgers outfielder Alex Verdugo, the two players Boston acquired in the deal. But the Sox weren’t pleased, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. Graterol’s medical records caused Boston to view him as more of a reliever than a starter, which meant his value wasn’t quite what the Sox had hoped (even if reports indicate Boston shouldn’t have been surprised with these findings).

This complication comes while Boston media and fans have skewered the organization for the move. The Red Sox bailed on Betts, the 2018 MVP, and Price in a transparent effort to get below MLB’s luxury-tax threshold to get back to the minimum penalty rate.

The three teams are still interested in getting the deal done, per Rosenthal. The Sox, however, seem less interested in completing the deal than before — perhaps because the court of public opinion has shifted the ownership group’s view on the trade. Their hesitance surrounding Graterol nearly pushed the Twins out of the deal entirely, per a report from the Star Tribune on Saturday. On Sunday, however, the three teams still seem to be in communication.

So how might the deal change? Here’s what reporters are saying.

It seems this trade has practically reverted back to square one. The Dodgers may need to find a new third team to appease the Red Sox’s demands for elite prospects (and, apparently, one who is a starter). Or perhaps L.A. and Minnesota can find a way to amass enough talent to appease Boston.

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Jalen Ramsey welcomes Mookie Betts to L.A. after blockbuster trade

The Dodgers agreed to acquire Mookie Betts from the Red Sox and Jalen Ramsey is pumped.

The Los Angeles sports scene added yet another star on Tuesday night with the Dodgers agreeing to acquire Mookie Betts in a blockbuster trade with the Boston Red Sox. Just in the last year, Los Angeles has added Jalen Ramsey, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Anthony Davis – and now Betts.

Ramsey, one of the newest arrivals in Hollywood, welcomed Betts to the city on Twitter after the trade was reported, but admitted he won’t be able to show him much since he just got there, too.

The Dodgers already looked like one of the favorites to win the World Series this season, but those odds just got even better with the arrival of Betts. They have the second-best odds to win it all at (+350), only behind the New York Yankees (+300).

Not long ago, the Rams were the talk of the town after making the Super Bowl, but since then, the Lakers, Clippers and now Dodgers have garnered the attention as of late.

How Mookie Betts pursuit for $400 million got him to the Dodgers

What I’m Hearing: The Dodgers pulled off the blockbuster trade to get Mookie Betts from the Red Sox. As Bob Nightengale details, Betts ambitions for a $400 million contract led to his departure in Boston.

What I’m Hearing: The Dodgers pulled off the blockbuster trade to get Mookie Betts from the Red Sox. As Bob Nightengale details, Betts ambitions for a $400 million contract led to his departure in Boston.

Twitter crushed the Red Sox for trading Mookie Betts to the Dodgers in blockbuster deal

The Red Sox traded away their best player on Tuesday night.

The Boston Red Sox, who currently don’t even have a manager, put the finishing touches on a dreadful offseason Tuesday night when they agreed on a trade that will send Mookie Betts and David Price to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

This deal instantly makes the Dodgers one of the favorites to win the World Series while it makes the Red Sox the favorites to be looking up to the Yankees in the AL East for years to come.

Betts was the AL MVP in 2018, a year in which he helped lead Boston to a World Series win over the Dodgers.

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale has more details on the deal:

The Dodgers, Red Sox and Minnesota Twins have agreed on a three-team trade that will send outfielder Mookie Betts and starter David Price to Los Angeles, according to an official with direct knowledge of the discussions.

The official spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because the deal was not yet finalized.

Boston’s return package will include outfielder Alex Verdugo from Los Angeles as well as pitching prospect Brusdal Graterol from the Twins. Minnesota will get right-handed pitcher Kenta Maeda from the Dodgers.

Twitter and Red Sox fans crushed the Red Sox:

Report: Red Sox extend Mookie Betts with record-breaking one-year deal

Mookie Betts is getting a record-breaking deal at the arbitration deadline, according to ESPN.

Mookie Betts is getting a record-breaking deal at the arbitration deadline, according to ESPN.

Jeff Passan tweeted the news Friday, reporting that the 27-year-old gets a $27 million contract from the Boston Red Sox, with that he, of course, avoids arbitration.

The one-year deal is the largest deal ever agreed to by a player in an arbitration-eligible season. Betts breaks the previous record of $26 million.

The 2018 American League MVP is a four-time all-star and finished eighth in MVP voting this season. He hit .295/.391/.524 with 29 homers and 16 stolen bases in 150 games in 2019.

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