Shohei Ohtani hit a record-breaking deal. Though several deals were negotiated during the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings last week, most eyes were on mega-star Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani’s free agency this offseason is the biggest domino everyone has been waiting to see fall, and now, the wait is over with the 29-year-old international star signing a mega-deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers for ten years and $700 million.
This deal marks a shift in the balance of power in baseball. Though the Dodgers have been known to spend money for some of the best free agents over the years, the organization can only boast one World Series Championship—in the Covid-shortened 2020 season. However, last year, two of the best hitters in the game, Mookie Betts and Freddy Freeman, led the Dodgers to their fifth consecutive 100-win season (162 games), finishing 16 games ahead of Arizona for the National League West crown. The addition of Ohtani (projected to be added in the lineup between Betts and Freeman) could be the missing piece in bringing another championship to Chavez Ravine.
Shohei Ohtani Stats
In fact, Shohei Ohtani, who took the American League by storm while playing for the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, has had better numbers in his career than the entire Dodgers organization in 2023:
Statistically, this should mean an improvement for what was already the second-best offense in the Major Leagues.
Perhaps the most significant appeal of a player like Shohei Ohtani is that he is more than a great hitter and fielder. He is also an upper-rotation starting pitcher. While he will not be pitching this year due to recovery from elbow surgery in September (he will be added to the team as a designated hitter for the season), he is expected to pitch in the second year of his contract. At that time, he will singlehandedly improve last year’s 13th-ranked Dodgers pitching staff with his career ERA of 3.01 and a WHIP of 1.08.
A New Era For the Dodgers
Furthermore, the cultural impact of Ohtani remaining in Los Angeles cannot be ignored. Bringing the high revenue of “Ohtani-Mania,” which was built while playing for the Los Angeles Angels, to Dodgers Stadium is a big win for the organization. The merchandising, ticket sales, concessions, marketing, and other financial opportunities make this deal a bargain for the Dodgers, especially considering the contract-friendly idea Ohtani’s representation unexpectedly presented to the Guggenheim Baseball Management. Namely, 97% of Shohei Ohtani’s salary will be paid yearly AFTER the contract has been fulfilled. This deferred payment arrangement was made famous by Bobby Bonilla, who signed a contract with the Mets in 1991 that pays him $1.2 million a year through 2035. Recently, more players, including Betts and Freeman, are opting for this type of contract as it will save on salary that can be used to continue being competitive for the ultimate prize—the World Series.
Without question, Shohei Ohtani is the most important player in free agency this year. Now that he has signed and we know where he will be playing for the next ten years, it’s time to PLAY BALL!