The Los Angeles Dodgers sent shockwaves through Major League Baseball with their signing of Shohei Ohtani to a record-setting 10-year, $700 million contract in December.
It is the largest deal in professional sports history but includes unprecedented deferrals that will pay him just $2 million per season over the life of the contract. Ohtani will then receive the remaining $680 million from 2034-2043.
According to Jack Harris of the L.A. Times, Ohtani will receive his $68 million payment on July 1 of every year during the span:
The $68-million deferral payments Ohtani will receive after the contract ends are scheduled to be paid out on July 1 of every year from 2034 to 2043.
Large contract deferrals are not uncommon as the New York Mets are currently paying Bobby Bonilla just over $1.19 million on July 1 every year until 2035, despite last playing for the team in 1999.
Ohtani proposed his unique contract structure with the Dodgers so the team can use the savings to add elite talent around him every year.
Ohtani’s top priority is winning a World Series, and he has already played an important role this offseason in helping recruit Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the Dodgers.
Key Shohei Ohtani contract details
Ohtani reportedly has a full-no trade clause, which is the first one given out under Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. The two-way star has the ability to opt out if owner Mark Walter or Friedman are no longer associated with the Dodgers.
As part of his contract, the Dodgers guaranteed that Ohtani’s interpreter Ippei Mizuhara will be sticking around, while also giving him a suite at Dodger Stadium for all of the team’s home games.
Ohtani will additionally donate 1% of his salary every season to the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
