Nancy Turner
Dec 12, 2023 - 07:10

Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani contract official, Angels release statement

Shohei Ohtani signs record-breaking $700 million contract with Los Angeles Dodgers, plans to defer $680 million until 2034. Angels release statement.

The Los Angeles Dodgers officially welcomed Shohei Ohtani to their team with a historic announcement on Monday evening. The MLB team shared quotes from Ohtani and Dodgers owner Mark Walter, confirming Ohtani's new membership with the team.

Ohtani expressed his gratitude to Dodger fans, stating that he and the organization share the same goal of bringing World Series parades to the streets of Los Angeles. The contract Ohtani signed is reportedly worth $700 million over 10 years, making it the largest in the history of Major League Baseball.

In an interesting turn of events, it was reported that Ohtani plans to defer $680 million of the contract until 2034, with annual payments of $68 million from 2034-2043. These deferrals were suggested by Ohtani himself, as noted by Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.

The idea behind the deferrals is to allow the Dodgers to add more players to their roster as they aim for a World Series win in 2024 and beyond. The team is still linked to top players on the MLB free agent market, including Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Dodgers owner Mark Walter welcomed Ohtani to the team, acknowledging the historic nature of the contract and congratulating Ohtani on joining the storied franchise. This move is monumental for the Dodgers and MLB as a whole, with the record deferral raising eyebrows and potentially enabling the team to add other high-priced players to their roster.

Following the official announcement of Ohtani's deal with the Dodgers, his former team, the Los Angeles Angels, released a statement expressing their gratitude for the six seasons Ohtani spent with the team. They described Ohtani as a generational player who redefined what is possible in the sport, and expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to witness his historic contributions.