"Dodgers continue to ruin baseball with deferred money" - Fans react as Tommy Edman agrees to 5-year, $74,000,000 contract extension, with $17m bonus

The LA Dodgers are making one move after another, signing players to contracts with some of the money deferred. Their latest signing was Tommy Edman, who agreed to a five-year, $74 million contract on Friday.

His contract includes a team option for the 2030 season and a signing bonus of $17 million. However, the most notable part of the contract is $25 million, which will be deferred over 10 years. Edman was on two-year, $16.5 million contract he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals and was in line to earn a $9.5 million salary for 2025 before this new contract came along.

The Dodgers continue to sign top free agents by getting creative with their contracts. However, some fans think it's not good for baseball.

"Dodgers continue to ruin baseball with deferred money smh," one fan commented.

"Dodgers executives are like the wolves of Wall Street. Started a great scheme. Started doing drugs. And eventually, this whole thing is gonna come crashing down," another fan commented.

"Their payroll is about to be 1 billion dollars next year," another wrote.

"Let me guess, 100% of the contract is deferred... madness," another added.

"Deferred money included” COLOR ME SHOCKED," another posted.

Tommy Edman joins star studded list of players who will earn next decade, thanks to deferrals in contract

MLB: NLDS-San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Dodgers - Source: Imagn

According to Spotrac, before Tommy Edman's signing, the Dodgers had nearly $964 million in deferrals. The major part of it comes from Shohei Ohtani's 10-year, $700 million deal, where almost 97% of the value is deferred until the next decade and thereafter will be paid in equal installments from 2034-43.

Mookie Betts owes $115 million in deferral while first baseman Freddie Freeman owes around $57 million from the Dodgers. Blake Snell, who signed a five-year, $182 million contract last week, will also have around $62 million of his money deferred until the next decade.

Will Smith, who signed a contract extension worth $140 million over 10 years ahead of the 2023 season, will also owe $50 million from the Dodgers.

While MLB has no limit on how much money can be deferred, the Dodgers seem to be making the most of the loophole. This only means the Dodgers will be the most competitive team for the next 10 years in baseball but the tide could turn fast and be detrimental for the franchise beyond that.