Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers sounds like a blockbuster headline figure, but the deal is far more unusual than that. The deal shifted the Dodgers’ payroll strategy with $680 million deferred until 2034-43, and Ohtani’s commercial appeal drew major attention in Japan and around the world. The deal also helped to change how massive player contracts can be structured by MLB teams. Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers sounds like a blockbuster headline figure, but the deal is far more unusual than that. The deal shifted the Dodgers’ payroll strategy with $680 million deferred until 2034-43, and Ohtani’s commercial appeal drew major attention in Japan and around the world. The deal also helped to change how massive player contracts can be structured by MLB teams.
