Dodgers to sign veteran catcher to record-breaking extension: reports

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After already committing to over $1 billion in contracts this offseason, the Los Angeles Dodgers' spending spree is apparently still up and running.

The Dodgers and catcher Will Smith are reportedly finalizing a 10-year deal worth $140 million.

Smith's contract will be the longest ever given to a catcher, surpassing the eight years that were given to Buster Posey, Joe Mauer and Keibert Ruiz (the San Francisco Giants used their club option on Posey to make it a nine-year deal).

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Will Smith celebrates his walk-off two-run homer, for a 5-3 win over the Colorado Rockies, at Dodger Stadium on June 23, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Harry How/Getty Images)

It will also be the third-largest ever given to a backstop, behind Joe Mauer's $184 million and Posey's $167 million.

Smith made his MLB debut in 2019 and made an immediate impact, racking up a .905 OPS with 15 homers and 42 RBI in 54 games – in the abbreviated 60-game season in 2020, he slashed .289/.401/.579 in 37 games.

He finally became a full-time player in 2021 and has not disappointed. Since then, he's hitting .262 with an .822 OPS, and was named an All-Star last season.

Since the beginning of the 2021 season, among catchers, he ranks second in home runs (68), RBI (241), OPS (.822), and on-base percentage (.356) and ranks third in total bases (650).

But he's also shown to be solid behind the dish as well – out of 81 qualified catchers last year, Smith's 1.91 pop-time was the 12th quickest, according to StatCast – although metrics don't love his pitch framing, he ranks well as a blocker.

Will Smith of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws out