MLB Rumors: Will Smith, Dodgers Finalizing 10-Year, $140M Contract Extension

The Los Angeles Dodgers and catcher Will Smith are finalizing a 10-year, $140 million contract extension, per ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Juan C. Toribio of MLB.com first broke extension talks on the Dodgers and Smith, who was set to become a free agent after the 2025 campaign. Toribio and Mark Feinsand of MLB.com added that the contract includes "some deferred money."

The 28-year-old is in his sixth MLB season, all with L.A. Last year, he amassed 19 home runs and 76 RBI alongside a .261 batting average and .797 OPS. Smith also made the National League All-Star team for the first time.

According to Baseball Reference, Smith owns a 162-game average of 30 home runs and 103 RBI. He's a lifetime .263 hitter (.842 OPS).

When the deal becomes official, the Dodgers will have four players on deals that span at least 10 seasons, per Spotrac.

The others are two-way star Shohei Ohtani (10 years, $700 million), pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12 years, $375 million) and shortstop Mookie Betts (12 years, $365 million).

First baseman Freddie Freeman is also on a six-year, $162 million contract that runs through 2027, and starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow is in town for five more years for $136.5 million.

So the Dodgers have their core in place for the foreseeable future, especially with Smith now aboard for a decade.

Expectations are naturally high for the Dodgers as usual, with the team clear World Series favorites, especially with Ohtani aboard.

L.A. started 1-1 after splitting a pair of games with the San Diego Padres in Seoul, South Korea to begin the season. The Dodgers will continue their 2024 campaign Thursday versus the St. Louis Cardinals.