Mookie Betts Has to Step Up His Game

Posted By on December 12, 2022

At the time the Dodgers traded for Mookie Betts, there was a lot of conversation as to who was the best player in baseball – Mike Trout or Mookie Betts? Sadly for both players, we do not hear that much anymore as both have slipped… and it does not appear that either player will continue to get better as Trout is 31 and Mookie is 30. Both ended the 2022 season with a .340 OB% – that’s pretty good but not superstar-esque. Mike Trout hit .283 with a .999 OPS, which is very much a superstar, and his OPS+ was 178, while Mookie OPS’ed .873 with an OPS+ of just 136. In straight-up comparisons between the two players, Mike Trout is light-years ahead of Mookie Betts. Trout hit 40 HR while Mookie hit 35.

Don’t get me wrong, Mookie is a great player, but realize that the Dodgers have to pay him this way for this long:

  • 2023 – $25.4 Million
  • 2024 – $30.4 Million
  • 2025 – $30.4 Million
  • 2026 – $30.4 Million
  • 2027 – $30.4 Million
  • 2028 – $35.4 Million
  • 2029 – $36.4 Million
  • 2030 – $35.4 Million
  • 2031 – $32.9 Million
  • 3032 – $32.9 Million

For the mathematically challenged, that is just about $320 Million Dollars that the Dodgers owe Mookie Betts over the next ten years. YIKES! As I said when the trade was made, “This is not going to end well.” Again, I am not trying to “dis” Mookie, but what I just said are facts. Mookie plays a high level of defense, and that helps his WAR, but insofar as being a “superstar,” Freddie Freeman is the Dodger closest to Mike Trout in hitting as his OPS+ was 152 and his OB% was .918. Them’s superstar stats!

For his career, Mookie has hit .292 against RHP and .295 against LHP. In 2022, Mookie hit .308 against LHP (only 156 ABs), but he hit only .255 against RHP, and therein lies the problem. Mookie was also very “streaky” in his play. Let’s look at his splits:

  • March/April – .230
  • May – .342
  • June – .193
  • July .248
  • August – . 330
  • September – .222
  • Playoffs – .143

If you have any questions as to who did not hit in the playoffs, start with Mookie Betts. Cody Bellinger was benched for not hitting in the playoffs, but the truth is, Mookie Betts had twice as many ABs and hit .143… the same as Cody! When Mookie is hot, he can carry the team, but more often than not, he is not hot.. at least lately.

2023 is a new season. The shift is gone (Mookie does pull the ball a lot), so that should help him. The bases are bigger (that should help the fast guys). The pitchers have to throw the ball quicker (that should help everyone). 2023 is the year Mookie has to go back to being a Superstar. Mookie also needs to voluntarily go to the #2 spot in the batting order so as to let Gavin Lux take over that spot (if he can handle it – I think he can).

Mookie, you need to step up and show the Boys in Blue how to do it! Maybe even get more vocal. The Dodger will go as far this year as Mookie and the Youngsters take them. Take the challenge, Mookie! This has to be YOUR team! Seize it! Be the Superstar that you are and the leader you were meant to be. That’s all! Just do it!

I want to see Mookie play with the emotion he had in this Blog’s Opening Photo! I want to see that Superstar again!

This article has 100 Comments

  1. Without Mookie, we don’t win in 2020 for me that’s worth the contract by itself.

    Yes Seags was the MVP but they dont win without what Mookie did not only at the plate but in the field and the basepaths….

    He will have play well in 23.

    1. He won game 6 all by himself. Scored 2, knocked in 2. Came home on a roller to first that no other player on the team could have scored on. And hit a homer that sealed the deal. Yeah, he is streaky, but the strike zone hurt him a lot. I saw him struck out several times on balls that were simply not strikes.

  2. 100++++% agree with this piece. Mookie is very good but we need him to be great. Paid like a superstar now is time to produce like one. If the Dodgers are indeed going to have 3 rookies play in the starting line-up they will need Mookie and FF to be the run producers along with Max and others.

  3. When Mookie is right he plays with a kid’s energy and passion. He has fun playing the game. When he’s horseshit, he stews and beats himself up. I’d like to see his emotional swings level out and not be so hard on himself.

    1. He got there by his fielding. You can cherry-pick stats that mostly show he is a very good player (and I am not saying he is not), BUT he was #44 in BA, #45 in OB%, and Dansby Swanson is within .2 points in WAR. Freaking Dansby Swanson!

      1. So… fielding isn’t important?
        How did Mookie do in HRs? Why weren’t any other Dodgers close?

  5. It’s nice that SF signed Sean Manaea, as the Dodgers love to take Batting Practice off him!

  6. Mookie should be more vocal. He has been in the majors long enough to assume that leadership role. If not Mookie, Freddie then. Freeman is respected and one helluva ball player. I look at the rookies this way, I am not expecting much, so if they do perform well, I will be mildly surprised, if they tank, I won’t be disappointed.

  7. Mark
    You keep projecting Lux at leadoff and Mookie hitting second. It would make more sense to reverse that so if Mookie gets on leading off then it opens up the hole on the right side for the left hand hitting Lux.

    1. While that is true, I believe the benefits of Lux at lead off outweighs that. Mook is the best power hitter on the team. #1 in HRs #2 in doubles. Leading off, he is guaranteed to have at least one AB with nobody on base. Before Lux got hurt, his OB% was around .370. Which would mean that 37% of the time, Mook would have his first AB with a runner on. While that wouldn’t produce an astronomical number of runs, it will result in a some additional runs. This is why Lux was batting 9th for so much of the season. When the middle 1/3 of the lineup was in terrible slumps, Lux batting 9th before Mookie gave him more ABs with a runner on base. I think Lux batting first would also give him more opportunities to steal bases. Lux had many of his first ABs with two outs. Which means if he got on base with Mookie coming to bat they weren’t going to risk letting Lux make the 3rd out on the bases. All taken together I agree with Mark. Lux has speed and OBP skills. Mookie has power. I think Lux batting lead off will result in more runs. I actually believe AF knows this. Mookie batting lead off has always been more about Mookie liking to bat lead off. So I have no idea if that will change.

  8. I’ve been having trouble writing comments on J.Dominique’s blog, here are a few who can, so I’m asking for your help in getting this message to Jeff:
    “Jeff, you don’t need to tell us every day that the Dodgers don’t have elite rookies,” to paraphrase Mark: even Ray Charles can see that!!!
    Review his writings and you will realize how many times he repeats that the Dodgers do not have elite rookies, we all know that, we are not assholes, enough of that, stop that!!!

    1. I don’t know that. And I’m confused why you would believe that a guy that wins AAA Player of the Year from Baseball America isn’t elite.

          1. Right! Dodgers have one elite prospect (Cartaya), one very very very good prospect (Vargas) and multiple very good prospects. We all know there are no guarantees. But “elite” is relative. There are maybe 2 other teams in baseball who wouldn’t swap their top 5 for our top 5.

        2. There were about 100 players in the NL who had over 400 ABs. Among those players, Lux was #18 in BA. He’s certainly no chump, but what constitutes “elite.?”

          1. I dunno. Batting average is a pretty anachronistic stat. That and RBIs aren’t really the indicators of production anymore.

            But Lux is just fine in my book. Even quite a bit better than fine.

      3. Dodger lineup 2023
        Lux 2B
        Betts. RF
        Freeman 1B
        Muncy. DH.
        Smith. C
        Swanson SS
        Vargas 3B
        Heyward LF
        Thompson CF
        On the bench
        Barne C, Busch infield, Taylor utility,Outman of, McCutchen of, J.D Davis 1b 3b

    2. I think the elite is in the eye of the beholder.

      I say elite is below superstar, and I think the Dodgers have 7 to 8 elite prospects. Superstar prospects do not always pan out, and neither do elite ones, but I like the Dodgers Farm System.

  9. Digers could have this as a fixture of young and old vets to teach them the ropes. Outfield could be Jason heyward outman Betts and infield could have Vargas Swanson Lux Freeman Smith and in the bench Muncy Taylor McCutchen Barnes Busch Thompson. That’s what I see them doing then going with three young guys as starters and oh yes get Rodon to sure up the rotation why Buehler is out this year.

    1. Rodon wants 7 years. No way AF gives him that. And until the Bauer situation is settled, they are not signing any long-term high-priced contracts. Buehler is most likely not returning, but some expect him back by September. Would he be ready to pitch full time? Doubtful.

  10. We are complaining about a guy who made first team all mlb team this year! Now if you want to complain about a guy not living up to his contract look to Rendon and anyone else the Angels have signed outside of Trout. And cmon Mark, all these 10+ year contracts aren’t going to end well! Even Trout’s! Mookie’s given us one great year and a championship, one good year and one blah year. I’m satisfied so far

    2. But I would love to see an MVP type season this year. And you’re right. This is now his team! We need the vocal and pisitive

  11. We’re complaining about Mookie and defending a guy who was making almost 20 mil and couldn’t find the Mendoza line with gps for 2 years! And regarding our prospects Vargas could be good and Busch and Outman are probably average mlb players. But then again who thought Smith would become one of the top catchers in the game 4 years ago? But I love our young pitching and expect big things from them!

  12. Huge 3 way deal swung by the Braves, A’s and Brewers. Braves get Murphy, Contreras goes to Milwaukee. And a bunch of kids to the A’s. Marlins according to MLBTR have made JT an offer and it is said to be very competitive.

  13. 1. The Braves got an All-Star Caliber Catcher. d’Aranud must be the DH and part-time catcher now. The Braves gave up 6 prospects, including 2 of their TOP 30 . Mueller was their #1 and they gave him up, but in LA’s systems he would have a hard time being in the TOP 10.

    2. JT is not going to the Marlins… unless he is going to renounce California.

  14. OK, I have one for you:

    The Dodgers trade Andy Pages, Eddys Leonard, Jacob Amaya, Ryan Pepiot, and Mike Busch to Cincinnati for Elly De La Cruz. He’s at least a year away, but he’s a star in the making. The Reds get young, controllable prospects, while the Dodgers get their SS of the future.

  17. Tyler Anderson should fire his agent for malpractice. Lets compare Anderson who signed a three-year $39 million contract with the Angels and Chris Bassitt who signed a three-year $63 million contract with the Blue Jays:

    Bassitt 33.9 years of age with 6.130 years of MLB service time:

    46 wins and 34 losses, 123 games started, 737.1 innings pitched, 8.19 K/9, 2.78 BB/9, .92 HR/9, 3.45 ERA .

    Anderson 32.11 years of age with 7.065 years of MLB service time:

    44 wins and 43 losses, 141 games started, 802.1 innings pitched, 7.63 K/9, 2.48 BB/9, 1.26 HR/9, 4.16 ERA

    Bassitt received and additional $8 million annually when it appears he and Taylor are virtually the same pitcher. If I was Anderson I would terminate his agent ASAP. Anderson is represented by GSE Worldwide and Bassitt is represented by Meister Sports Management.

    How could Anderson’s agents get it so wrong and at that price why didn’t AF sign Tyler?

    1. I will list the reasons why Tyler Anderson was not signed:

      1. Urias
      2. May
      3. Gonsolin
      4. Kershaw
      5. Pepiot
      6. Stone
      7. Grove
      8. Miller, B.
      9. Miller, S.
      10. Bauer – One way or the other
      11. Buehler – 2024
      12. Moritorium on Spending

      1. Have they mentioned how they plan to use Shelby Miller next year? I live the idea of signing relievers and converting them to starters. Hell, let Ferguson have a chance in the rotation again. Bazooka too!

      3. That’s actually a very thin starting rotation. Hate to break it to you Pollyannas.

        Gonsolin’s wheels fell of at the end of the season. Kershaw had his annual trip to the injured list, and he’ll most likely have another one this year. May shows flashes of brilliance, but then just as quickly loses it and gets hammered.

        Urias was the only reliable starter … oh … except for that Tyler Anderson guy – the guy who led the team in innings pitched and was tenth in the league in ERA – the guy who just signed a super team friendly deal with the team down the road – the guy who was apparently really appreciative of the Dodger coaching staff who turned his career around and probably wanted to stay a Dodger had they made a competitive offer. That guy.

        I would like to see Stone pitch this year, though. He’s thrived – dominated actually – at every minor league level. He needs to be pushed at the MLB level. He might stumble a bit, but if he’s that good, he’ll adapt. Pepiot has that great change, but he’s never shown any indication he’ll get over his control issues. I’ve never been as high on Bobby Miller as you folks have.

        Number 12 is interesting. I think there is some truth to this. Probably not so much as a moratorium, as just a realization that “hey, we went all in for a while and spent a bunch of cash to muscle our way to a WS. It didn’t work. The expanded playoff format odds make continuing to do this in light of of the CBT penalty not a really smart strategy. Let’s reset the cap so we aren’t lighting money on fire and giving up draft positions and see what our farm can do.”

  18. I agree that Dodgers should have signed Anderson at $13 mill per year, especially after extending the QO at $19.6 million.
    However, Tyler and his agent had to make an early decision to decline the QO before free agent market exploded. Tyler will be fine with $39 million guaranteed.
    And while Anderson was better than Bassitt in 2022, it was by far a career year for Tyler. Whereas Bassitt has been a consistently good starter for 5 years in a row.
    But overall I totally agree that Anderson signing is better than Bassitt deal for the teams.

    1. Tyler will be fine. I’m happy for him and the Angels.
      I think we have to assume his agent went back to AF to see if he’d top the Angels’ offer–and that AF decline.
      Anderson could revert to his old meh form, but his progress to all-star status could be sustainable. He revamped his approach with the Dodgers–and the Angels can thank the Dodgers for that.
      And the Rangers now have Heaney, whose every pitch could wind up in the bleachers.

  19. Anybody feel like the Dodgers might try to work out a deal for Reynolds and Bednar? It just feels too slow for something not to happen. Ticket holders won’t be happy with just Shelby Miller and Jayson Heyward after losing so many players. Feels like dumpster diving.

    2. At this point in time, the Pirates are adamant that they are not going to trade Reynolds even though he has requested a trade. Pirates are under no obligation to do so. It seems much more likely that he would be dealt at the trade deadline. The price will be very high. As for the moves so far, if you have been reading this blog, MLBTR, the Athletic or anything else, you would know and understand that they are not going to make any major salary additions until after the Bauer question is settled. Then they will know exactly how much money they have to play with and still stay under the Luxury tax. Bauer’s situation should likely be resolved by the end of this month, or early in January. If his suspension is upheld, they have close to 40 mil to play with, if not, they are on the hook for a ton of cash. If his suspension is reduced, then not as much. Hayes just signed a team friendly extension. He is not going anywhere.

    3. I don’t think anything will happen with Reynolds until the Trade Deadline… and right now, it is dumpster diving.

  21. Maybe TAnderson don’t want to live in Toronto the next 3 years and prefer staying in California.

  22. I hear people say the Dodgers missed out on Stripling.

    That is actually very funny.

    Maybe they could use him as the team’s Stockbroker because he would be about the 22nd-best pitcher on the roster.

    Just because he had a few good games and was once a Dodger is no reason to sign a guy who is simply a journeyman.

    They are Silly!

    1. Mark I think you are not giving Stripling his due. He was 10-4 with a 3.01 ERA and 1.02 WHIP last year and was probably Toronto’s best starter after the all star break. He also has a very solid 3.78 ERA and 1.19 career stat line. Not saying we should have signed him but he is MUCH more than a “journeyman.”

      1. It was an excellent movie even though there was not a single name star in it. Very well done and the planes and flying scenes were awesome. I am going to read up about the people portrayed in the film.

  27. We’re gonna have a lot of 40 year old players in around 10-15 years.

    Seriously, how do you sign a guy, with a bad back, that hasn’t played 150 games in a season into his 40’s?

    This is a really crazy offseason.

    1. I’m assuming there is a belief, apparently, that human cyborg technology will come around in about 5 years.

      Like Darth Vader, who got his leges lopped off. But he was still a bad ass.

      Personally, I don’t have such faith in such technology.

      Call me crazy.

  28. I think this off season will prove to be the most pivotal moment in recent Dodger history.

    By watching this madness unfold, it might mean short term hurt, but it will ultimately bring longer term success.

    Utter madness going on.

  29. Correa.. Giants. 13 years. $350m

    I, for one, welcome this signing. It has to do with continuity of distain. Despite a one year respite in Minnesota; I have held few individuals in the sport with such ill-will.

    Yes. Many Dodger fans called for him to come to LA. I said, no!

    He is now where he belongs.

    May god have mercy on his sole.

    Never mind.

    That was sold in 2017.

    May god have whatever mercy he sees fit in what is left of whatever a 2017 Astro has remaining.

    Giants got the player they deserve.

    1. Excellent points!
      Correa has career BA of 279 with 836 OPS.
      He has never hit 30 HR
      Never had 100 RBI
      Not stolen more than 3 bases in a year since 2017.
      Only finished top 10 in mvp voting one year.
      Played mostly in a hitters park and cheated.
      He has a bad back and has not played 150 games since 2016.
      His team finished in 3rd place with 78 wins in a weak division last year.
      The team that let him go last year won the WS with a rookie replacing him in the lineup.
      No way Dodgers should pay this guy $350 million and I am glad Friedman did not participate.

  30. As Watford said, This may help the Giants “short term.”

    I find it remarkable that smart people like Farhan can get “hoodwinked” by Scott Boreass…

    and then there was Dansby!

    I also wonder in Freidman has been “tipped off” somehow (through back channels) that Bauer is being re-instated.

    1. I agree. Bauer is coming back.

      For all who clamored for the team to play with more emotion more fire….well Bauer brings that in spades….

      Id sign Swanson on a 4-5 year deal…

        1. I dont understand if the suspension for Bauer is overturned or shortened why the Dodgers would be responsible for the $35 mil last year. It was Manford who suspended him, not the Dodgers. Then Manford is a winner either way! It should be paid by MLB!

      2. Players signing 4 to 5 years was as long as players got. When did it get more common for longer contracts .It is not good baseballl.

  31. i think Mookie and Freddie Freman job is not stepping up but rather continue stellar day to day performance to give stability to the team. I am perfectly fine with a season much or less the same as last season.

    If you want to put pressure to step up that will be Will Smith and in a lesser degree Gavin Lux.

  32. Who says the madness goes away next year? Maybe this is the price of doing business going forward! Then AF takes the Dodgers back to being Tampa Bay? Wait to see what AF pays Ohtani next year!

    1. No guarantees the Dodgers will sign Ohtani next year. With new ownership buying the Angels ,they just might want to sign him because of his value to the franchise on the field and monetarily off the field with him contributing to attendance, TV rights in Japan and in the USA and the sale of Ohtani merchandise. In my humble opinion, the Dodgers are using his future signing as an excuse for not signing free agents, but the real reason is the unknown of the Bauer fiasco and what may happen if his suspension is lifted for 2023 and possibly part of last season and the the huge financial burden attached to that.

      1. I would be willing to bet that the Dodgers will not sign a 30-Year Old Player whom many other teams will be bidding up.

        It ain’t happening!

        Fangraphs has the Dodgers at 91 wins right now. Andrew Friedman will teach a lot of teams tough lessons this year.

  33. I see Swanson at 5-Year/$125 Million.

    Tell me that Correa is worth almost three times that!

    Farhan needs a dose of Dumbass Vaccine.

    What a dope-fiend move.

    1. You may see Swanson as a 5/125 guy but he’ll do a lot better than that.

      I bet you he gets closer to 7/185. Might actually break $200 MM. We all better get used to this.

      I don’t see AF participating at those numbers for Swanson.

  34. If the Dodgers plan is to stay under the CBT this year, I have no problem with that. The excuse of any financial burden that the Bauer court decision may cost I feel is BS. The Dodgers and Bauer entered into a contract. Even though the commissioner suspended Bauer, I would think the Dodgers would put money aside or may be required to put money aside until the court renders a decision.

    1. Again, I dont understand why Dodgers are financially responsible if Manford suspended him? Why do we get nothing for $35 mil? Manford and the league should be financially responsible if overturned!

      1. The Dodgers would likely not be on the hook if it is overturned.

        Manfred should munch on that!

      2. Because the Dodgers signed him to a contract, and Manfred and the league did not.

        I guess the Dodgers could try to transfer the contract to the league, if allowed, but why would any other club want to assume that burden?

  35. AF at it again: Dodgers To Acquire J.P. Feyereisen from TB… and oh, he will miss 2023.

    He gave up lefty Jeff Belge. THis is obviously a move for the future.

    OK, lose your collective minds!

  36. ’s a long-term play for the Dodgers, as Feyereisen is still controllable through the 2026 season via arbitration. The Rays would surely have loved to keep Feyereisen until this spring, when they could place him on the 60-day injured list and free up his 40-man roster spot. However, Tampa Bay also has righties Shane Baz and Andrew Kittredge recovering from Tommy John surgery and in need of 60-day IL spots when camp opens. As such, carrying all three until Spring Training would’ve effectively amounted to Tampa Bay operating with a 37-man roster instead of a 40-man roster for the balance of the offseason.

    Feyereisen’s DFA raised plenty of eyebrows yesterday, as the right-hander rattled off 24 1/3 scoreless innings for the Rays in 2022 before being shelved by the shoulder injury that eventually led to the recent operation to repair both his right rotator cuff and labrum. A year prior, Feyereisen had turned in 56 innings of 2.73 ERA ball, albeit with a bloated 14.1% walk rate that created some skepticism about his ability to sustain that pace.

    The now-29-year-old righty (30 in February) not only improved his command in 2022 but sent his walk rate plummeting to 5.8% — a mark that’s leaps and bounds better than league average. All told, Feyereisen has 89 2/3 innings of experience at the big league level and has pitched to a 2.31 ERA with a 23.8% strikeout rate and 12% walk rate. However, if he can sustain any of the 2022 strides he made in terms of strikeout rate (29.1%) or walk rate, he has the potential to be a vital late-inning arm for the Dodgers for three-plus seasons. And, because he’s unlikely to pitch much this season, his first trip through the arbitration process next winter shouldn’t produce a particularly large salary.

    This reads really well – taken from mlb trade rumours

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