Christian Yelich Contract Gives Dodgers a Precedent in Mookie Betts Negotiations

The Milwaukee Brewers were able to come to an agreement with Christian Yelich on a seven-year extension. While the Brew Crew were able to lock up their star for the majority of the next decade, what does this mean for the Dodgers and their negotiations with newly-acquired Mookie Betts?

As Betts is set to become a free agent at the conclusion of the 2020 season, the Dodgers would be foolish not to try to come to an agreement with the 27-year-old outfielder. If they are able to secure him to a deal before he hits the open market, they may be able to avoid a huge overpay.

The Dodgers acquired Betts along with starting pitcher David Price from the Red Sox earlier this month in exchange for a package including Alex Verdugo and prospect Jeter Downs.

The Red Sox traded Betts so they could get something for him before he hit free agency. They felt as though they couldn't afford his eventual contract, as much as they liked him as a player.

Now as a member of the Dodgers, he may be slightly more agreeable to contract negotiations with the club. If LA plays their cards right, they could ink Mookie without having to substantially overpay him. Yelich's contract -- which made him one of the highest-paid position players in all of baseball -- is essentially a benchmark for the Dodgers to aim for.

It still seems likely that Betts wants to hit the open market, but if the Dodgers want to shoot their shot, they should start with an offer of Yelich's caliber.