Mookie Betts speaks about retirement plans as his Los Angeles Dodgers contract winds down

Mookie Betts recently revealed that he plans to retire once his current contract wraps up. In a chat on the Roku Channel's "What Drives You with John Cena Betts," he confirmed his intentions when Cena directly asked him if he would hang up his cleats when his contract ends.“Yeah, yeah, for sure,” Betts responded to Cena's question about calling it a career at the end of his ongoing contract. “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,” Betts added during the interview.As we head into the 2026 season, Betts boasts a .290 batting average, 1,767 hits, 291 home runs, 913 RBIs, 196 stolen bases, and an .881 OPS across 1,531 games. His career WAR is at 75.2.Betts has snagged eight All-Star nods, seven Silver Slugger trophies, six Gold Glove honors, and the 2018 American League MVP while playing for the Red Sox. He was first picked in the fifth round by the Boston Red Sox back in 2011 and spent his initial six MLB seasons there before moving to Los Angeles.During the 2025 season, Betts moved from the outfield to shortstop, playing 150 games with a .258 batting average, hitting 20 home runs, driving in 82 RBIs, and achieving a .732 OPS. He also played defensively at shortstop in 148 games and had one game in right field.Betts has played in four World Series championships: 2018 with the Red Sox, and 2020, 2024, and 2025 with the Dodgers.The Dodgers took down the Toronto Blue Jays in a thrilling seven-game series to clinch the 2025 World Series, which was their ninth title overall and their second in a row.The Dodgers strengthened their lineup this offseason by bringing in outfielder Kyle Tucker with a four-year, $240 million deal. This contract has opt-out options after the second and third years, a $64 million signing bonus, and $30 million that will be deferred. Tucker turned down a qualifying offer from the Cubs, meaning the Dodgers will lose their third- and sixth-round draft picks in 2026.Also, the team brought in closer Edwin Díaz earlier this offseason, which already set them back their second- and fifth-round picks along with $1 million from their international bonus pool because he turned down the qualifying offer. These actions set the Dodgers up to chase more championships before Betts retires in 2032.Also Read: “I feel sad”: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reacts after Toronto Blue Jays teammate Bo Bichette signs with New York Mets