Shohei Ohtani’s record-setting $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers has a unique structure that will open up much-needed financial flexibility for the NL powerhouse over the duration of the deal.
On Friday, the two-way superstar signed a 10-year deal with the Dodgers that marks the richest contract in the history of professional sports. It exceeds the $674 million USD deal that soccer legend Lionel Messi signed with Barcelona FC back in 2017.
In an update, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic provided some stunning details on Ohtani’s contract structure: Though his annual salary on the deal is $70 million, Ohtani is going to only take $2 million a year and “defer” the rest.
The structure of Ohtani’s contract will allow the high-spending Dodgers to save precious dollars and continue to build a winner around the two-time American League MVP.
ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez added that Ohtani will be paid $680 million between 2034 and 2043. Citing sources, Gonzalez added that Ohtani apparently makes over $45 million per year in endorsements, so he’ll still be pocketing plenty of cash annually as a member of the Dodgers.
Ohtani’s former Los Angeles Angels teammate, Mike Trout, previously held the record for the largest MLB contract ever. In 2019, the future Hall of Famer signed a 12-year extension worth $426.5 million.
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Ohtani will make his Dodgers debut on Mar. 20 against the San Diego Padres, when the two clubs meet in Seoul, South Korea to begin the 2024 MLB campaign.
