Dodgers News: Mookie Betts is Laser Focused on Bringing a World Series to LA This Year

Mookie Betts wants a world championship more than the National League MVP.

Mookie Betts probably deserves the National League MVP award since he has had a fantastic offensive season while playing multiple positions on defense. However, Betts is concentrating on helping the Los Angeles Dodgers win another World Series.

“MVP is cool but it’s kind of irrelevant," Betts said when asked where he thought he stood in the race. "We play to win the World Series and the individual goals, like I said, they’re really cool — and some people play for that, and there’s nothing wrong with that at all ... But me, I play because I want to win.”

In 2018 while with the Boston Red Sox, Betts won the American League MVP. If he wins the National League MVP, he will be the second player to earn the MVP awards in both leagues.

He was asked if he at least started to think about the award after the team clinched the NL West.

“That would be the time to do it, for sure,” Betts said. “But for me, I think the guys in here keep me straight ... especially J.D. (Martinez), Freddie (Freeman). I mean all the guys, they really keep me on the straight and narrow and don’t really worry about those things. It’s really easy to not pay attention to personal accolades.”

Betts understands he can’t control the National League MVP race. Sportswriters vote on the MVP, and Ronald Acuña, Jr. is having a remarkable season for the Atlanta Braves. All Betts can control is helping the Dodgers win a World Series.

When Betts came to Los Angeles his goal was to help the Dodgers to win many World Series rings. He already has one, but he and the team are hungry for more.