A decade of interest was cashed in Saturday with Shohei Ohtani announcing his intention to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Ohtani is signing a 10-year, $700 million contract that is the richest in MLB history and largest ever in North American professional sports. The mark previously belonged to former Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout, who signed a 12-year, $426.5 million extension in March 2019 that has him under team control through 2030.
Ohtani’s contract with the Dodgers reportedly includes deferred salary but no opt-out clauses.
In a reference to secrecy surrounding Ohtani also involving his dog, Walker Buehler joked it is either named after him or the Dodgers.
So his dog was named Dodger after all?
— Walker Buehler (@buehlersdayoff) December 9, 2023
I’d like to think it was named Walker but I guess I’ll find out soon.
— Walker Buehler (@buehlersdayoff) December 9, 2023
Although they were the favorite, news of the Dodgers signing Ohtani sent shockwaves throughout the sports world. That included with new teammate Gavin Lux, who was awoken to the record-setting contract.
I wake up from a nap…. And BANGGG!🤣
LFG— Gavin Lux (@TheRealGavinLux) December 9, 2023
Freddie Freeman shared his excitement in a message for Dodgers fans with David Vassegh of AM 570 L.A. Sports Radio:
Freddie Freeman's text to me from his kid's baseball tournament regarding his new teammate:
"Tell Everyone hello for me and that it's a good day to be a Dodgers fan!"#Ohtani #DodgerTalk @AM570LASports
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) December 9, 2023
The Dodgers had long been a perceived favorite for Ohtani, but the Chicago Cubs, Angels, San Francisco Giants and Toronto Blue Jays were finalists as well.
The Blue Jays were said to have made an impression over recent days and it was reported they were on the verge of signing Ohtani. In the end, the two-way star never was traveling to Toronto as initially reported, and the Dodgers pulled off the biggest signing in MLB history.
Shohei Ohtani contract details
Ohtani’s contract with the Dodgers is the largest in MLB history by nearly $275 million. While Trout previously held the record, the total value of Julio Rodriguez’s contract with the Seattle Mariners could finish at $469.3 million if various incentives are reached and options get exercised.
That then would make Rodriguez’s contract the second-largest in MLB history, still behind Ohtani.
Moreover, Ohtani’s $70 million average annual value (AAV) breaks the MLB record of $43.3 million, which had been shared by Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer.
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