The Los Angeles Dodgers have been active during the 2024 offseason and continue to solidify an already star-studded lineup. On Wednesday, MLB insider Jeff Passan reported that the club are finalizing a 10-year, $140 million contract with 28-year-old catcher Will Smith.
Smith was selected by the Dodgers in the first round of the 2016 MLB Draft and has gradually worked his way up the ladder. He was rewarded for his hard work with a call up to the big leagues in 2019 where he went on to feature in 54 games. Over the last few year, the right-handed hitter has become a staple in the lineup, starting over 125 games in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
He finished the 2023 season slashing .261/.359/. 438 and amassed 19 home runs and 76 RBIs along the way. Defensively, Smith was sound and was named to the All-Star Game for the first time in his career after strong displays behind the plate.
BREAKING: Catcher Will Smith and the Los Angeles Dodgers are finalizing a 10-year, $140 million contract extension, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 27, 2024
Smith was a also member of the Dodgers side that won the 2020 World Series, breaking the club’s 32-year championship drought.
Smith is the latest player to get locked into a long-term deal with the organization as the Dodgers look to build a powerhouse that can compete for years to come. During the offseason, the club locked up Japanese superstars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto to multi-year contracts. Freddie Freeman signed a six-year, $162 million contract in 2022 and Mookie Betts still has plenty of time left on the 12-year, $365 million deal he signed in 2020.
