Dodgers Best Positioned to Sign Mookie Betts Next Off-Season, Says The Athletic
The Dodgers do not have many financial commitments past the 2021 season and will surely have to spend money at that point to maintain their core and a roster capable of winning the World Series. The first step in doing that could be waiting it out in the sweepstakes for Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts and simply just signing him in the off-season.
Betts has not shown any interest in signing an extension with the Boston Red Sox and will likely enter free agency.
In a recent column for The Athletic, Andy McCullough states that he believes the Dodgers are the most well-positioned team to sign him in the winter of 2020-2021.
No team is better positioned to sign Mookie Betts next winter than the Dodgers. They were willing to set a record with their offer to Gerrit Cole. Are they willing to do what it takes to sign Betts? https://t.co/zg93nGikHI
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) January 10, 2020
McCullough says within the column, “when it comes to the free agency of Mookie Betts, the question is not about whether the Dodgers are willing to set a record. It is about if they will do what it takes to sign him.”
Betts is one of the best players in the sport and the Dodgers should do everything they can to lock him up long-term. It is unknown whether or not the best course of action would be to trade for Mookie Betts now, have him fall in love with Los Angeles, and re-sign or just wait until next winter.
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Betts would be the ready-made leadoff man the Dodgers have been looking for.
As McCullough also notes throughout the article, the Dodgers are the only large market club to have such a small amount of money committed to the future.
They have the money for Mookie Betts, but will they pull the trigger? Recent history does not bode well for that proposition.
I expect the next winter signing to go similarly as they are now but I’m optimistic they will do better next season. I know, I’m foolish for believing so.
There is a greater chance the Dodgers sign Mookie Wilson. They’re system is so good, they are now straight up in the profiteering business. And business is very, very good. Any suggestion otherwise with speculation based clickbait about this superstar and that free agent— is just pure hype. The Big Tease.
I’d send OF Pollock, Keibert Ruiz (#3), Dennis Santana (#10), and Omar Estevez (#15) to Boston in a heart beat. If pushed, maybe even Mitchell White (#9). Betts is a game changer!
Additionally, if they can’t lure Josh Donaldson, wait out Colorado for Arenado. Arenado has a full no-trade clause, wants to “come home”, and can reject every other team until Colorado accepts an offer from the Dodgers. P Ross Stripling, 3B/1B Edwin Rios, and 2B/3B Devin Mann (#17) should get that deal done. Maybe a lower-rated RHP prospect as well.
Having a right/left lineup of: Betts (R), Seager (L), Donaldson/Arenado (R), Bellinger (L, at 1B), Peters (R), Verdugo (L), Smith (R), and Lux (L) would be devastating. And, we keep all out top young pitchers…
Thumbs up all the way.
It’s always next year. What will be the excuse when that time comes? They were supposed to be in great position this year to sign some big names yet they came up with NONE, it didn’t work out so don’t expect it next offseason
Yep. It’s always the “big move” that never happens. The big rumor that evaporates.
I agree that Betts would be a great free agent aquisition next year. A right handed power hitting gold glove caliber outfielder who could fill the leadoff hitter void would be great. But that’s a year away.
Daniel, nice try to put lipstick on a pig; the pig being Guggenheim. It’s all about return on investment for the investment group. As long as their revenue doesn’t drop, they won’t be motivated to go outside of our farm system other than a dumpster dive and occasional swapping of overpriced contracts.
Boycott. Let’s make their big renovation and all star game year a huge flop
Finally!! Some common sense where Mookie Betts is concerned!! Why give up 2-3 of your best prospects for a guy you won’t control a year from now? I’m all for letting May, Gonsoulin, and Urias see what they can do. Isn’t that why we have player development? There’s always the July trading deadline if a fix is necessary.
I am sure (if we truly were involved in trade talks in a SERIOUS manner), that Boston wanted May AND Lux or a current veteran such as Pederson and one of those 2. You can’t do that kind of trade and come out on top for a one year rental. That is why Price emerged as part of the deal. So we eat a chunk of that contract. So, yep, the waiting game is in our favor on Betts.
Actually, at this point in time, it makes all the sense in the world to just let Betts go to FA after this year and then take chances that he would want to be signed by Dodgers for 2021 and beyond. I understand he already turned down an extension offer by the Red Sox so who knows… and for certain is the fact that Dodgers should not even trade for him at this year’s deadline because then the team is giving up players for what..2 months of rental?
I agree Paul. They lost their chance to improve in the FA market now they must lie in the bed they made until next offseason
Jeez, enough of these pipe dreams already! It’s obvious the Dodgers aren’t going to offer 9 figure contracts so let’s learn to live with it.
Enough with the speculations.
HA, HA, HA, HA. Just more bate and switch BS from [Owners/Kasten/Friedman]. This is ANOTHER off-season of lying promises and no action and they think fans are so stupid we believe this latest lie. Translation of this lie, “We will once again do NOTHING in the off season but you should love us because we promise that NEXT off season we’ll sign top tier talent. The saddest part of this is not that we won’t win a WS in 2020 (maybe not the division either) but that SOOOOO MANNNY stupid, casual, gullible fans eat this BS up). Really not a LOT of difference between McCourt and Guggenheim at this point.
I don’t know what’s worse McCourt and his wife throwing away what little team money they had on stuff like an entire house just for the closet, or an ownership like Guggenheim that has it all but won’t do all they can with it
Most likely some other team will offer Betts a FA deal that Dodgers will not attempt to match so IIWII.
Who cares? Really. I know it’s the off season and you have to fill the space but let’s look back and see how many articles start “(Fill in the blank expert) thinks the Dodgers have a real shot at signing (fill in the blank superstar). Until the Dodgers actually sign someone of significance (Treinen and whatever the other reliever’s name is) don’t count, no one will pay attention. Even “real” Dodgers fans. It’s boring. We get it. They aren’t going to part with Lux, etc. Move on.