Dodgers’ Mookie Betts Announces Retirement Date

Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

The Los Angeles Dodgers would have been the favorites to win a third consecutive World Series title next season even if they had just “run back” the roster from last year.

But along with returning stars like Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Dodgers have added coveted free agents Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz. And their odds of completing a “three-peat” went up considerably as a result.

With the Dodgers‘ payroll getting even larger and its roster getting even more intimidating, it’s getting harder to imagine a future in which the team is not the preeminent World Series favorite. The rest of the sport might have to wait until the teams biggest stars leave the game entirely. And now at least one of them has put a firm date on that.

Los Angeles Dodgers Mookie Betts Reveals Retirement Plan

When speaking about the future of his career as a guest on “What Drives You” hosted by John Cena, Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts announced that he plans to retire on the day that his current contract runs out.

“Yeah, yeah, for sure,” Betts responded when Cena asked if he‘d call it a career at the end of his ongoing contract, per a clip from the episode shared by Dodgers Nation. “For sure. I’ll be 40, my little girl will be 14, 15, my son will be 10. I know for me, my parents were always there and I want to do that same thing for my kids.”

Mookie Betts Plans To Retire From Los Angeles Dodgers After Milestone

After signing a 12-year, $365 million extension with the Dodgers in 2020, Betts deal is set to expire after the 2032 campaign. So the team can expect him to continue his career for seven more seasons, assuming he stays healthy and productive enough to retain a meaningful role.

However, last year offered perhaps the first glimpse into Betts playing decline. Though he instantly developed into a Gold Glove caliber everyday shortstop for the team, several injury setbacks seemed to take a major toll on his offensive production. He endured a toe injury and a significant stomach virus during the season and slashed just .258/.326/.406 and missed the All-Star game for the first time in the last five years.

Though Betts seems likely to bounce back as part of a star-studded lineup with the Dodgers once again, it seems the most that the team can hope for is seven more years of meaningful production from the legendary position player and three-time World Series champion. Then he will be calling it quits.