Shohei Ohtani shocked the baseball world after signing a 10-year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. It is the most significant contract ever signed by a professional athlete.
Ohtani's deal trumps the 10-year, $450 million deal NFL star quarterback Patrick Mahomes signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. It also tops the contract of future Hall of Famer Cristiano Ronaldo's $536 million deal for 2.5 years.
Ohtani will defer much of his contract while he is with the Dodgers. He plans on deferring $68 million per season. With the deferment, the team is saving nearly $24 million.
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While he signed a deal for $700 million, the contract is being valued at $437,830,563, according to the Major League Baseball Players Association.
Shohei Ohtani's hit towards the luxury tax will be about $46 million annually. The value also accounts for a three percent projected inflation rate.
The CBT refers to the Competitive Balance Tax, a tax on teams who go over a predetermined payroll threshold. For the 2024 season, the threshold is set at $237 million.
With Shohei Ohtani deferring much of his contract, how does this help the Dodgers?
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Shohei Ohtani's deferment really helps the Dodgers. They can now spend more money on other players, increasing their odds of winning the 2024 World Series.
This is great for a team that still does not have their starting rotation figured out yet. Clayton Kershaw is a free agent and will miss the start of the season if the team re-signs him. Kershaw underwent shoulder surgery after the season ended.
It has been reported that the team is interested in acquiring Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow. Glasnow is coming off a solid season where he started 21 games, compiling a 10-7 record with a 3.53 ERA.
Another name the team is tied to is Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Yamamoto is the top-rated pitcher on the open market and would be a great addition to the rotation. He would work as a frontline starter and would pair nicely alongside Ohtani.