Shohei Ohtani to sign 10-year, $700 million contract with Dodgers
Dec 9, 2023, 12:13 PM | Updated: 12:32 pm
(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Shohei Ohtani has made his decision.
After a wild month of behind-the-scenes negotiations, the two-way superstar announced on Instagram that he has decided to choose the Los Angeles Dodgers as his new team.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that Ohtani will sign a 10-year, $700 million contract in what will be the largest contract in North American sports history.
Multiple outlets are also reporting that Ohtani’s historic deal includes “unprecedented deferrals,” with The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal stating that most of his salary will be deferred to help the Dodgers remain competitive in future free-agent markets.
There are no opt-outs in Ohtani’s deal.
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One day removed from a media circus that included false rumors stating that Ohtani was en route to Toronto to sign a contract with the Blue Jays, the 29-year-old star will remain in Southern California for the next decade.
While it was heavily rumored that the San Francisco Giants would not be outbid for Ohtani’s services, the $700 million final figure is a daunting one, to say the least.
Giants president Farhan Zaidi has been under heavy scrutiny since last offseason when San Francisco missed out on slugging outfielder Aaron Judge and had an agreement with All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa fall apart on the day of his introductory press conference.
Instead of bringing Ohtani to Oracle Park, the Giants will have to turn their attention to pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, outfielder Cody Bellinger, and third baseman Matt Chapman now that the market will begin to move.
More on two-time AL MVP Shohei Ohtani
Since he burst onto the scene in 2018, Shohei Ohtani has been the most interesting player in baseball.
The two-way star just finished his second American League Most Valuable Player campaign while batting .304 to go along with 44 home runs, 95 RBI, and 20 stolen bases.
Ohtani went 10-5 on the mound with a 3.14 ERA and 167 strikeouts over 132 innings pitched. Although the 29-year-old is rehabbing a UCL injury, he plans on returning to pitch in 2025.
In his six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani batted .274, hit 171 home runs, drove in 437 runs, stole 86 bases, and pitched his way to a 38-19 record (3.01 ERA).
Along with winning two MVP awards, Ohtani is a three-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and 2018 AL Rookie of the Year.
MLB Offseason Schedule
- December 4-7th – MLB Winter Meetings
- December 6th – Rule 5 Draft
- Mid-February – Spring Training begins
SF Giants Schedule
- February 13-15th – Pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training workouts
- February TBD – Full squad workouts
- Saturday, February 24th – Spring Training opener vs. Chicago Cubs
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