Mookie Betts, Dodgers working on extension

One of the biggest free agents in the 2020-21 offseason might not be. According to multiple reports today, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts is in deep discussions with the team regarding a long-term extension. 

Lou Merloni of WEEI reported that the two sides are working towards a deal in the 10-year range and worth between $350-$400 million. 

Betts, who has been one of the best players in baseball since coming into the league, was traded to the Dodgers in February. He was largely viewed as a rental for LA, but now it seems the team wants to keep him around longer than this season. 

The Red Sox traded Betts after not being able to get a long-term deal done with the once-in-a-lifetime talent. Merloni reported in January that Boston had offered Betts a 10-year $300 million deal, but he countered with 12 years, $420 million. 

This move would certainly make Dodgers' fans feel good, as there is a feeling that the team hasn't been able to sign a big free agent in recent years. Fans also expected to only have Betts with the team for this year, and when the season was shortened to 60 games, they were only expecting to get roughly 1/3 of a regular season out of the 2018 MVP. 

Now it seems as if the Dodgers will have two of the top talents in baseball roaming their outfield for the foreseeable future with Betts and Bellinger. If Betts is able to secure a $400 million contract, it would be just the second such deal in MLB history, following Mike Trout's extension with the Angels. 

I guess if you want the big bucks, Southern California is the place to be.