Think of it as the Dodgers’ “number one priority,” and I mean it.
According to his agent, Nez Balelo, the Dodgers and reigning American League Most Valuable Player Shohei Ohtani have reached an agreement on a record-breaking 10-year, $700 million contract after a heated sweepstakes.
Ohtani posted on Instagram on Saturday, saying, “To all Dodgers fans, I pledge to always do what’s best for the team and always continue to give it my all to be the best version of myself.” “I want to keep pushing forward for the Dodgers and the baseball community until the very end of my playing career.”
Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo of CAA Sports, issued a statement saying, “This is a unique, historic contract for a unique, historic player.” “Shohei is ecstatic to be joining the Dodgers team. He is eager to get started on this collaboration and designed his contract to show that both parties are really committed to long-term success. Shohei and I would want to express our gratitude to all the organizations that showed interest in and regard for us, particularly the amazing individuals we had the pleasure of getting to know even better throughout this process.
“We would like to thank the fans, media, and industry for their enthusiasm and thoughtfulness throughout this process. We know there was a lot of interest in it.”
Indeed, historic. Ohtani’s contract is thought to be the biggest in sports history globally, topping soccer player Lionel Messi’s $674 million agreement with FC Barcelona from 2017 to 21. (It also exceeds Kylian Mbappé’s estimated salary of $679 million should he choose to remain with PSG until 2025.)
It is more than the 10-year, $450 million agreement signed by Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the annals of North American club sports, and it is greater than the 12-year, $426.5 million extension signed by former colleague Mike Trout in the history of the Angels in 2019.
In terms of free agency agreements, it surpasses Aaron Judge’s nine-year, $360 million contract signed before to the 2023 season by $340 million, making it the greatest in terms of money in MLB history.
At the Winter Meetings, manager Dave Roberts offered a rare glimpse of transparency by revealing that the Dodgers had spoken with Ohtani, but other than that, there were little details on the player’s free agency. However, there has been a lot of conjecture and contradicting information throughout the previous week, especially on Friday, about Ohtani’s intentions and even his location. Before Saturday’s announcement, the general consensus was that the Blue Jays would win after a late effort.
Ohtani, who turns 30 on July 5, has a contract that runs until 2033, the season he will be 39 years old. With two MVPs awarded unanimously twice, three All-Star selections, two Silver Slugger awards, and the 2018 AL Rookie of the Year, Ohtani is without a doubt the best two-way player in MLB ever. He slashed.274/.366/.556 with 171 home runs and a 148 OPS+ in six seasons with the Angels. Over the course of five seasons, he has a 3.01 ERA, 608 strikeouts, a 1.08 WHIP, and a 142 ERA+ on the mound (he missed 2019 due to Tommy John surgery).
Ohtani will recuperate from surgery in October to repair his right UCL, so he won’t be able to pitch in 2024, but he will fit in well as the Dodgers’ designated hitter in the lineup next season, joining Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts, the runners-up for the National League Most Valuable Player award. Ohtani is coming off of his finest season to date at the bat, leading MLB in slugging (.654) and WAR (10.0) while leading the AL in home runs (44) and OBP (.412). This information was provided by Baseball Reference.
Ohtani’s contract contains what one source referred to as “unprecedented deferrals,” including the bulk of his compensation, which Ohtani proposed, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. In order to provide the Dodgers the freedom to remain competitive, he sought to lessen the CBT and cash-flow obligations.
The insider informed Feinsand that while the deferrals had some tax advantages as well, their main purpose was “to allow the team to be successful on the field, because above all else, he wants to win.”
That adaptability will be crucial because, with Ohtani no longer available, the trade and free-agent markets can now go forward. The Dodgers still need to make decisions, however, even with their new star leading the way. The most important thing is to add a few starting pitchers to the already lean staff. The greatest available alternatives via trade are the Brewers’ Corbin Burnes, the Rays’ Tyler Glasnow and Dylan Cease of the White Sox, all three of whom the Dodgers have been connected to.
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