Dodgers: Four reasons Mookie Betts will re-sign with Los Angeles

1) The 2021 market has changed

With Major League Baseball on pause until at least the end of June, and fans unlikely to be able to attend games if baseball does return, 2020 league revenues will decline significantly. How that impacts free agency next offseason is yet to be determined, but there will clearly be less dollars chasing free agents.

As much as people talk about the Dodgers trading Alex Verdugo and two prospects for Mookie Betts, who might not play for the team if the 2020 season is canceled, there is another way to look at the deal.

The Red Sox upset their fanbase and pulled the trigger on trading one of the best players in baseball because they were worried they wouldn’t be able to re-sign him for an asking price that was expected to soar above $400 million. Given the current state of revenue throughout the league, it’s hard to believe Betts will fetch the same contract next winter as he would have under normal conditions.

A new economic landscape might lead Betts to agree to a more team-friendly deal with the Dodgers. It also might scare some potential suitors away who are cash-strapped due to the pandemic. Forbes recently valued the Dodgers as the second most valuable franchise in baseball. They should be well-equipped to weather the storm and remain aggressive in signing Betts long-term.