Arrr! Avast ye mateys! Me eyes be landin' on Shohei Ohtani's mind-blowin' Dodgers parchment! Aye, a famous sports agent be decipherin' this treasure trove o' gold!
2023-12-15
Arr, mateys! The legendary sports agent, Leigh Steinberg, did engage in a jolly conversation with Fox News Digital 'bout the grandest agreement that Shohei Ohtani did sign with the gallant Los Angeles Dodgers. Aye, 'tis a deal like none other!
Shohei Ohtani's free agency has been the talk of baseball since he signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels before the start of the 2023 MLB season. The contract meant that Ohtani, often referred to as the modern-day Babe Ruth, would hit the open market. Projections for his contract were difficult to predict due to his unique skill set, but no one could have predicted what was to come. Ohtani agreed to a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, making it the largest contract in baseball history. The financial details of the contract were revealed, with Ohtani deferring all but $2 million annually until the end of his contract. This deferral of money will lower the amount it costs towards the Dodgers' luxury tax payroll. Sports agent Leigh Steinberg believes that Ohtani's ability to play both as a hitter and a pitcher, along with his box-office draw and marketing potential, makes him a unique player who can generate revenue for a team. Steinberg also mentions that Ohtani prioritized being on a winning team and wants to play in the postseason, which influenced the structure of his contract. While deferrals have been seen before in baseball, Ohtani's contract takes it to a new level. Overall, the contract is unprecedented and advantageous for the Dodgers. Ohtani will now join a lineup that includes Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman as the Dodgers aim to bounce back from their disappointing postseason exit in 2023.