Shohei Ohtani, widely considered the best player in the MLB, is headed to the Dodgers after he accepted a record-breaking deal worth $700 million. The deal is the largest in the history of North American Sports.
While the sum is massive, it’s set to be collected over ten years, which would work out to about 70 million a year. However, Ohtani opted to hold off until the end of his contract to collect all of it; he will make $2 million a year with the Dodgers over his ten years, and after his contract is up in 2033, he will gain $68 million a year.
With his seemingly odd collection method and general disagreement over his upgrade from one LA team to another, there’s debate about whether the deal is even legal in MLB terms.
Ohtani, who gained fame for his domination in pitching, had to undergo surgery in August after injuring his elbow. Many are asking if a deal worth so much money is even legal, let alone if it’s legal to offer it to a pitcher who can’t pitch due to injury.
The deal, which falls under the MLB’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA), is legal. CBA has also been used by players like Bobby Bonilla, earning almost $31 million over a 24-year contract, and even with the Dodger’s own Mookie Betts. He will earn $120 million over 11 years after the expiration of his contract.
Even with Ohtani out of pitching for the time being, the Dodgers have made him their designated hitter. Ohtani is also an incredibly talented hitter, and with a .674 batting average was considered one of the best hitters of the 2023 season.
Despite many people upset by the astronomic deal, there is no doubt that Ohtani’s a big hit with Dodgers fans already.
On Thursday, Ohtani set the record for most jerseys sold in 48 hours. This surpasses records set not only in baseball jersey sales but in any jersey sales. The new number 17 Dodgers jersey beat the likes of jerseys of soccer stars Cristiano Ronaldo and even Lionel Messi.
Ohtani was officially introduced by the Dodgers on Thursday but is set to begin as their designated hitter starting in the 2024 MLB season.
