The last thing that Dodgers fans want to hear is that this hiatus will cost us more than just games. The COVID-19 virus that shut down most of the world made it’s way into baseball, and has worried officials across the league. So much so that the possibility that there are no games played in the 2020 season has become much more real over the last few days.
If there is not a season played, Major League Baseball has already agreed to terms that would allow players in contract years to enter free agency for 2021. Unfortunately, that would include the recently acquired Mookie Betts. Some of the guys from ESPN’s Highly Questionable got together to discuss whether or not Mookie owed the Dodgers any loyalty.
I’m not actually interested in what Mooke Betts’ allegiances need to be beyond to his pocketbook and making sure he’s happy and he gets his money however he gets his money. – Dan Le Batard
Let’s face it, it’s sort of a dumb question. A guy who has yet to play one game for a team and was forced to come here via trade absolutely does not owe any loyalty to Los Angeles. It’s not his fault that the world is falling apart and that baseball cannot be played right now. The Dodgers still have the opportunity to offer him a contract, the question now is if they will.
They’re(Dodgers) still going to continue to paying that big money, they’re still going to find a way to get Mookie Betts to play for that franchise. -Israel Gutierrez
The fact that the Dodgers have the deepest pockets in all of baseball backing them doesn’t hurt their chances of resigning Mookie. It is, however, limited to an extent. The Dodgers will be losing Justin Turner and Joc Pederson to free agency following this season. They also have to consider that large paydays are on the horizon for Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager, and Walker Buehler.
Meaning, if they are going to commit $300+ million to Mookie Betts, the Dodgers will likely be committing to letting at least one of those guys walk. It’s a tough call but making a trade for a guy that never plays for your team would be tough to swallow.
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