The Los Angeles Dodgers and Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani have reached a creative $700 million deal that could potentially revolutionize the way baseball contracts are structured. The deal is the largest ever for a Japanese player, and it’s a major coup for the Dodgers, who have been looking to add a top-tier talent to their already-stacked roster.
Ohtani, who is just 25 years old, is considered one of the most talented players in the world. He has already won two MVP awards in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league and is considered a five-tool player, meaning he can hit for power, run the bases well, field his position, throw with accuracy and velocity, and hit for average. He is also a two-way player, meaning he can pitch and hit.
The deal is structured in a way that gives both sides some protection. The Dodgers will pay Ohtani an initial $700 million over the course of 10 years, with the potential for more money if certain performance incentives are met. The deal also includes an opt-out clause after five years, which gives Ohtani the flexibility to explore other opportunities if he feels he can get a better deal elsewhere.
Despite the potential upside of the deal for both sides, there are still risks involved. For the Dodgers, there is always the possibility that Ohtani could suffer an injury or fail to live up to expectations. For Ohtani, there is the risk that he could be underpaid if he fails to reach certain performance benchmarks or if he opts out of the deal early.
Overall, this is an exciting development for both the Dodgers and Ohtani. The deal could potentially revolutionize the way baseball contracts are structured and could open the door for more creative deals in the future. It remains to be seen how this deal will play out, but it’s certainly one to watch in the coming years.
