The Shohei Ohtani free-agency quest has concluded in smashing fashion. The Japanese superstar has signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he announced on Instagram. The 10-year contract is worth $700 million, the richest contract in professional sports history. The contract has no opt-outs but includes ‘unprecedented’ deferrals, giving the Dodgers dexterity to build a competitive team.
“To all the fans and everyone involved in the baseball world, I apologize for taking so long to come to a decision,” Ohtani said on Instagram. “I have decided to choose the Dodgers as my next team. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone involved with the Angles organization and the fans who have supported me over the past six years, as well as to everyone involved with each team that was part of this negotiation process. Especially to the Angels fans who supported me through all the ups and downs, your guys’ support and cheer meant the world to me. The six years I spent with the Angles will remain etched in my heart forever.”
He beats out the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Patrick Mahomes as he completely rewrites the MLB free agency market. After his tragic torn UCL in late August, projections of his contract plummeted. The thought of being without the 132 innings and 142 ERA+ theoretically took hundreds of millions of dollars off the table. Halfway through the season, projections starting with a five seemed ludicrous. In December, the number begins with a seven, and Ohtani is bringing in $70 million a year.
There is no question as to whether this is worth it. Even after missing the final month of the season, he led the league in WAR, slugging %, and OPS, and he led the AL in home runs. The 29-year-old is the only player in MLB history to be voted unanimous MVP twice. After undergoing an elbow procedure in September, Ohtani will be unable to pitch in the ’24 campaign but hypothetically will be able to take the bump for the final nine years of his contract. The popularity of Ohtani is unmatched, and this contract will pay itself off before it runs out. The eyeballs this will bring to the MLB, and the Dodgers in specific, will be otherworldly. The attention Ohtani brings is as close as baseball will get to Beatlemania. The man has global popularity, Michael Jordan in ’98 type popularity.
The secrecy of his time on the free agent market ultimately resulted in comical moments. On the eighth, reports came flying that Ohtani and the Blue Jays had gotten a deal done. Apparently, his private jet was on its way to Toronto, and Blue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi had rented out an upscale sushi restaurant. Businessman Robert Herjavec was actually on the private jet, and it was Kikuchi’s wife’s birthday. A surprise that was involuntarily ruined by Ohtani’s free agency craze.
Ohtani stays in Los Angeles to join the reincarnation of the 1940s-’50s Bronx Bombers. The Dodgers have solidified their status as the new Yankees, bringing in established big names to always stay in contention for the best team in the league. The Dodgers now have five MVPs on their team, and the Betts, Freeman, Ohtani trio is arguably one of the scariest in MLB history. The Dodgers now have three contracts worth $100+ million and two above $350 million. They hope this will be the final puzzle piece to push them over the top. Although they haven’t missed the playoffs in over 10 years, the last time the Dodgers won the World Series after a full season was in 1988.
Baseball fans around the globe are annoyed with Ohtani’s move across I-5, but this is amazing for the sport. Yes, this signing brings together three of the best individual players the sport has ever seen into one lineup, but the beauty of baseball is the exclusivity of success. You must fail 7 of 10 times to be an outstanding baseball player, so comparing this to Kevin Durant to the Warriors doesn’t apply. It’s impossible to take over a baseball game the same way you could if you had better players in basketball. If the Dodgers can pay one player $700 million, baseball is headed in a great direction. The world is right when the top-paid professional athlete is a baseball player.
