Nashville's Mookie Betts signs mammoth 12-year extension with Dodgers worth $365 million

The Los Angeles Dodgers, who wondered at times whether Mookie Betts would even play a game for them before testing free agency, signed Betts to the richest contract in franchise history.

The Dodgers and Betts, a former star player at John Overton High School in Nashville, have reached agreement on terms of a 12-year, $365 million contract and will have a press conference Wednesday to make the official announcement.

The total represents the largest amount of new money ever given to a player. Last spring, Mike Trout signed a 10-year, $360 million extension with the Los Angeles Angels.

The Dodgers, who traded for Betts and former Cy Young winner David Price in February from the Boston Red Sox, certainly have the financial clout to sign one of the game’s greatest stars. The only contract they have on the books past 2021 is the final year of Price’s contract, paying him $32 million, with the Red Sox paying half of it.

Certainly, Betts’ contract disputes the theory that players could take a massive financial hit in free agency with the season shortened to 60 games with no fans.

Betts, 27, a four-time Gold Glove winner who won the AL MVP in 2018, rejected an extension before being traded by the Red Sox that would pay him $300-$325 million over 10 years.

Now, he strikes even a greater deal during the pandemic without testing free agency.

Follow Bob Nightengale on Twitter @Bnightengale