Thursday, July 23, 2020

Nice Work if You Can Get It


The Dodgers reportedly signed outfielder Mookie Betts to a twelve-year extension worth $365 million.  The question immediately becomes, is he worth it?

 

Betts, who will turn 28 in October, has a career .301 batting average to go with 613 runs scored and 470 RBIs.  At 5’9”, he projects to score considerably more runs than he drives in.  I can only hope the Dodgers’ front office adjusted Betts’ stats for playing six seasons in Fenway Park.

 

Mike Trout is fourteen months older to the day than Betts.  Trout has a .305 career batting average to go with 903 runs scored and 752 RBIs.  Depending on weight gain and injury, Trout would seem to be a player who will both score runs and drive them in.  Is he worth the 12-year, $430-million contract he signed at the start of last season?  In absolute terms, who is?  In relation to Betts, you be the judge.

 

My only hope is that these two very rich young ballplayers will consent to an autograph or two on game days.   

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