LOS ANGELES, CA: Catcher Will Smith and the Los Angeles Dodgers are finalizing a 10-year, $140 million contract extension, per Jeff Passan of ESPN. The deal includes a $30 million signing bonus. This raises their total commitments to $1.3 billion in free agent contracts and extensions this off-season. The Dodgers long time catcher would have been a free agent after the 2025 season.
Smith’s 10-year contract is the first contract in league history that a catcher has received a contract length of 10-years or longer. The previous longest was Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants, set at 9-years. Smith’s deal will also includes “some deferred money."
Breakdown of Will Smith’s 10-yr, $140M extension:
$30M signing bonus
2024: $13.55M
2025: $13M
2026: $13M
2027: $13M
2028: $9.5M
2029: $9.5M
2030: $9.5M
2031: $9.5M
2032: $9.5M
2033: $9.95M
The deferrals -- $5M per season -- will be paid out annually between 2034-43.
(Per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com)
Now that the Dodgers have locked up their franchise catcher through 2033, Will Smith adds to the Dodgers core. Taking a look at their long-term contracts, the Dodgers have formed quite the squad for years to come..
2035: Yoshinobu Yamamoto*
2033: Shohei Ohtani
2033: Will Smith
2032: Mookie Betts
2028: Tyler Glasnow
2027: Freddie Freeman
*can opt out after 2029 or 2031 season
(Contract details from MLB On Fox)
This off-season has been arguably the greatest of all-time for the Dodgers. They have completely separated themselves from everyone else in the league. Coming with that, is huge expectations for them.
Looking at Will Smith, he has been arguably the best catcher in baseball for the last several seasons. During his six seasons in Dodger blue, Smith has slashed .263/.358/.484 with 91 home runs, earning himself an All-Star selection in 2023. Smith is a compliment to this already stacked roster, which is certainly a testament to the Dodgers with how reliable Smith has been.
Smith is no pushover behind the dish either. Building up .997 fielding %, 137 assists, 3727 putouts, and just 13 errors across his career.
The deal itself is looked at as a bargain. As mentioned, Smith continuously puts himself in the conversation for best catcher in baseball. For the length and the amount, this contract could and should be looked at as a win for the Dodgers. The 2024 season should be a big one for Smith and his club.