” When youre making a financial investment of this magnitude, youre not just banking on the players capability, youre also betting on the individual,” Friedman stated. “We couldnt be more comfy to make that bet on Mookie Betts.”
” When we made that trade, we did it with more than 2020 in mind,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman stated Wednesday. “We valued the threat that included that. We did it with our eyes broad open, and a commitment from all of us that we were going to do whatever we might to try to keep Mookie here for the rest of his profession.”
Boston focused on resetting luxury tax penalties over keeping their finest gamer in February, before his last year heading into free agency. The Dodgers leapt on the risk with an eye on the reward, trading for Betts and pitcher David Price.
With a 12-year, $365 million offer that takes Betts through his age 39 season in 2032, the Dodgers might have done simply that.
Mookie Betts is a generational talent that any group, especially a big-market franchise, must do whatever in their power to keep as long as they can. The Dodgers acted accordingly, while the Red Sox didnt.
Betts is 27 years old this season. And he made a hell of a good impression in the five months hes been with the Dodgers.
Greatest WAR, 2015-19
Player
2020 age
Gamer
fWAR
Avg.
rWAR
2020 age
fWAR
rWAR
Mike Trout
Avg.
28
44.2
45.1
44.7
Mookie Betts
27
35.4
39.5
37.5
Nolan Arenado
29
26.9
31.4
29.2
Jose Altuve
30
27.2
28.0
27.6
Francisco Lindor
26
27.2
27.6
27.4
Christian Yelich
28
27.7
26.4
27.1
Paul Goldschmidt
32
25.5
28.3
26.9
Josh Donaldson
34
27.6
25.6
26.6
Kris Bryant
28
27.8
23.9
25.9
Manny Machado
27
24.6
27.0
25.8
fWAR = FanGraphs WAR
rWAR = Baseball Reference WAR
In 2018, Betts had his finest season to date, hitting.346/.438/.640 with 32 crowning achievement, 30 taken bases, and 47 doubles. He topped 10 WAR in both variations, won American League MVP, and won a World Series over the Dodgers, assisting to clinch the series with a home run in Game 5.
Betts is 27 years old this season. Betts first full season was in 2015 with Boston. Trout and Betts, the only other gamer because 2015 to typical 6+ WAR per year is Alex Bregman (in his 3 full seasons, 2017-19). You see the skill up and down the small leagues, everyone in the front office from the owner on down, everyone is remarkable,” Betts stated. Just the worth, and thats it,” Betts stated.
” From the time that Ive been here, individuals here made me feel so comfortable. You see the skill up and down the minors, everyone in the front office from the owner on down, everyone is remarkable,” Betts stated. “I believe this organization is a well-oiled machine.”
That well-oiled device has actually won seven successive department titles, one for each full season of the Dodgers ownership group. They made 2 World Series, however have not yet won that ultimate reward. Theyve stayed competitive, with 91 wins the low point of the last seven years, all while rebuilding the player development system at the same time.
The Dodgers farm system was ranked third in baseball this year by both Baseball America and MLB.com, as the big league group is the leading World Series preferred by a number of projection systems.
The Dodgers acknowledged that worth, and they get to have one of the best players in baseball play for them for a long time.
Simply reasonable worth. Just the worth, and thats it,” Betts said.
Provided the income loss throughout baseball throughout the pandemic, and a season starting and potentially finishing with no fans in the stands, this winter seasons free agent market seems difficult to forecast. Betts was going to be the top reward this winter, the forecast for his next deal most likely looked much various in July than it did in March prior to the sport shut down.
Friedman talked with Betts and his representative about a possible extension during spring training, but those talks were postponed together with whatever else in the baseball world. Negotiations began anew last week, with the objective of a contract prior to Opening Day, to avoid the distraction of having such talks throughout the season.
Betts very first complete season remained in 2015 with Boston. Given that then, the only other player with more Wins Above Replacement is Mike Trout. Trout and Betts, the only other player because 2015 to typical 6+ WAR per year is Alex Bregman (in his 3 complete seasons, 2017-19). Nolan Arenado likewise averaged 6.3 WAR the last five years on Baseball-Reference, but balanced 5.4 WAR on FanGraphs.
That impression was clearly made, though there were barriers. The relationship integrated in spring training, consisting of when Betts led a team meeting on one of his first days in camp, was disrupted when the coronavirus pandemic shut the season down.
That was his last video game at Dodger Stadium that counted. His next one is Thursday night, when the Dodgers open their 2020 season at home versus the Giants. And likely a number of hundred more after that.
” Weve spoken about this a lot, trying to develop a location spot where players who are here dont wish to leave, and players from the outside are longingly looking at our company and wishing to play here,” Friedman stated. “So I was hopeful that we make a great impression on Mookie with just the communication and individuals we have, and the culture thats been produced.”
