“,”providerName”:”Instagram”,”providerUrl”:”https://www.instagram.com/”,”type”:”oembed”,”width”:658,”contentType”:”rich”}, {“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:””This is a unique, historic contract for a unique, historic player,” Nez Balelo of CAA Sports, Ohtani’s agent, said in a statement. “Shohei is delighted to be a part of the Dodgers organization. He is excited to begin this partnership and has structured his contract to reflect a true commitment from both parties to long-term success. Shohei and I would like to thank all of the companies that have contacted us for their interest and respect, especially in this process.” We’re amazing people who got to know each other even better when it came out.\n\n\”We know the fans, the media and the industry as a whole. There was a high level of interest in the process and we want to express our appreciation for their interest and the way it played out. \n\nHistory indeed. Ohtani’s contract is believed to be the biggest in world sports history, beating soccer superstar Lionel Messi’s $674 million contract with FC Barcelona from 2017-21. wants to stay with PSG until 2025.)\n\nBased on North American team sports history, this surpasses Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ 10-year, $450 million extension; In baseball, that’s more than current former teammate Mike Trout. Agreed to a 12-year, $426.5 million extension with the Angels in 2019.”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”OEmbed”,”html”:”
Get used to seeing a lot more of this 😳 pic.twitter.com/z2Y3VORYr2
— MLB (@MLB) December 9, 2023
\n\n\n”,”providerName”:”Twitter”,”providerUrl”:”https://twitter.com”,”type”:”oembed”,”width”:550,”contentType”:”rich “},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”In terms of free-agent contracts, it was the largest in MLB history at $340 million, surpassing Aaron Judge’s nine-year, $360 million deal. 2023 season. It eclipsed the record for the average annual value for an MLB contract set at $43.3 million by Max Scherzer before the 2022 season, then tied with the Mets a year later by Justin Verlander.\n\nDetails of Ohtani’s free agency were largely sparse, with manager Dave Roberts offering a rare level of honesty at the Dodgers’ winter meetings. He simply revealed that he had met Blair. But this past week — especially Friday — there was much speculation and conflicting reports about Ohtani’s plans and where he was in the world. Up until Saturday’s announcement, the Blue Jays were in the lead following a late push by prevailing sentiment.”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”Ohtani. July 5 is locked in until July 30, 2033, which will be his age-39 season. A two-time unanimous MVP, three-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger and 2018 AL Rookie of the Year, Ohtani has been the most impressive two-way player in MLB history. In six seasons with the Angels, he slashed .274/.366/.556 with 171 home runs and a 148 OPS+. On the mound, he posted a 3.01 ERA with 608 strikeouts, a 1.08 WHIP and a 142 ERA+ in five seasons (he didn’t pitch in 2019 following Tommy John surgery).\n\nOhtani can’t pitch in 2024, though. As he recovers from October surgery to repair his right UCL, he will be well positioned as the Dodgers’ designated hitter next season, joining National League Most Valuable Player runners-up Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman in the lineup. Ohtani is coming off his best season in which he led the AL in homers (44) and OBP (.412), while leading MLB in slugging (.654) and WAR (10.0, per Baseball Reference).”,”type”:” text”},{“__typename”:”OEmbed”,”html”:”
2024 can’t come soon enough 🤯 pic.twitter.com/d8pDHhFxHI
— MLB (@MLB) December 9, 2023
\n\n\n”,”providerName”:”Twitter”,”providerUrl”:”https://twitter.com”,”type”:”oembed”,”width”:550,”contentType”:”rich “},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand said a source in Ohtani’s contract called “unprecedented deferrals,” including the bulk of his salary — which was Ohtani’s idea. He wanted to ease CBT and cash flow burdens. The Dodgers have to have the flexibility to stay competitive.\n\nThe source told Finance that there are also tax incentives because of the quotas, but they are “primarily about allowing the team to be successful on the field because, above all else, he wants to win.”\n\nThat flexibility is important because Ohtani The trade and pre-agent markets are now off the table — and the Dodgers still have moves to make, even with their new superstar. The biggest need is at least two starting pitchers to bolster a thin staff right now. The biggest options available through trade are the Brewers’ Corbin Burns, the Rays’ Tyler Glasnow and Dylan are the keys of the White Sox, all three linked to the Dodgers.”,”type”:”text”}],” RelatedSiteUrl”:”/news/shohei-ohtani-contract-with-dodgers”,”contentType”:” “news”,”subHeadline”:null,”summary”:”LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles — Note that the Dodgers have been dealt “primarily” — and emphatically.\nReigning American League Most Valuable Player Shohei Ohtani, 10-year, $700 million He agreed to a deal with the Dodgers to break the contract. \n“To”,”tagline({\”formatString\”:\”none\”})”:null,”tags”:[{“__typename”:”InternalTag”,”slug”:”storytype-article”,”title”:”Article”,”type”:”article”},{“__typename”:”PersonTag”,”slug”:”playerid-660271″,”title”:”Shohei Ohtani”,”person”:{“__ref”:”Person:660271″},”type”:”player”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”apple-news”,”title”:”Apple News”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”rumors”,”title”:”rumors”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”transactions”,”title”:”transactions”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TeamTag”,”slug”:”teamid-119″,”title”:”Los Angeles Dodgers”,”team”:{“__ref”:”Team:119″},”type”:”team”},{“__typename”:”ContributorTag”,”slug”:”sarah-wexler”,”title”:”Sarah Wexler”,”type”:”contributor”}],”type”:”story”,”thumbnail”:”https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/{formatInstructions}/mlb/xjndw9qi1qnutjqmj73j”,”title”:”Shohei Ohtani Contract With Dodgers “}},”Person:660271”:{“__typename”:”Person”,”id”:660271},”Team:119″:{“__typename”:”Team”,”id”:119}}} window .adobeAnalytics = {“reportingSuiteId”:”mlbglobal08,mlbcom08″,”linkInternalFilters”:”mlb”} window.globalState = {“tracking_title”:”Major League Baseball”,”lang”:”en =”} window.appId ‘ ‘ /*–>*/
10:03 PM UTC
LOS ANGELES — Consider being dealt “majorly” for the Dodgers — and emphatically.
“To all Dodgers fans, I promise that I will always do what is best for the team and will always give my all to be the best version of myself,” Ohtani wrote. “Until the last day of my playing career, I want to continue to improve not only for the Dodgers, but for the world of baseball.”
“This is a unique, historic contract for a unique, historic player,” Nez Balelo of CAA Sports, Ohtani’s agent, said in a statement. “Shohei is delighted to be a part of the Dodgers organization. He is excited to begin this partnership and has structured his contract to reflect a true commitment from both parties to long-term success. Shohei and I would like to thank all of the companies that have contacted us for their interest and respect, especially as this process unfolds. To the amazing people we know better.
“We know that fans, the media and the entire industry have taken a huge interest in this process, and we want to express our appreciation for their interest and their consideration.”
Historic, indeed. Ohtani’s is believed to be the biggest contract in world sports history, surpassing soccer superstar Lionel Messi’s $674 million contract with FC Barcelona from 2017-21. (That would surpass the roughly $679 million Kylian Mbappé would earn if he were to stay with PSG until 2025.)
In terms of North American team sports history, that surpasses Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ 10-year, $450 million extension; In baseball, that’s more than current former teammate Mike Trout, who agreed to a 12-year, $426.5 million extension with the Angels in 2019.
In terms of free-agent contracts, it’s the largest in MLB history at $340 million, surpassing Aaron Judge’s nine-year, $360 million contract before the 2023 season. That broke the record for average annual value for an MLB contract, previously set by Max Scherzer at $43.3 million with the Mets prior to the 2022 season and then tied by Justin Verlander with the Mets a year later.
Ohtani, who turns 30 on July 5, is locked up until 2033, which would be his age-39 season. A two-time consensus MVP, three-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger and 2018 AL Rookie of the Year, Ohtani has been the most impressive two-way player in MLB history. In six seasons with the Angels, he slashed .274/.366/.556 with 171 home runs and a 148 OPS+. On the mound, he posted a 3.01 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 142 ERA+ with 608 strikeouts over five seasons (he did not pitch in 2019 following Tommy John surgery).
Although Ohtani won’t be able to pitch in 2024 after October surgery to repair his right UCL, he’ll be well positioned as the Dodgers’ designated hitter next season, along with National League Most Valuable Player runner-up Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman in the lineup. Ohtani is coming off his best season in which he led the AL in homers (44) and OBP (.412).
According to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, Ohtani’s contract includes “unprecedented deferrals” including a large portion of his salary — which was Ohtani’s idea. He also wanted to ease CBT and cash flow burdens, allowing the Dodgers to have the flexibility to remain competitive.
The deferral also has tax benefits, the source told Finance, but they were “mainly about allowing the team to win on the field, because above all else, he wants to win.”
That flexibility will be important, as Ohtani is now off the table allowing the trade and pre-agent markets to move — and the Dodgers still have moves to make even with their new superstar. The biggest need is at least two starting pitchers to bolster the currently thin staff. Corbin Burns of the Brewers, Tyler Glasnow of the Rays and Dylan Seas of the White Sox are the biggest options available via trade, all three linked to the Dodgers.
