Decoding the Financial Wisdom Behind Shohei Ohtani’s $700 Million Deal

If there is going to be one name associated with every aspect of MLB history, it’s going to be Shohei Ohtani. While no one doubts the on-field prowess of the Japanese star, the financials of the two-way phenom’s gargantuan contract are worth looking at. The man who won’t pitch in 2024 signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers – a $700 million deal over 10 years, makes one curious about the rationale behind OK-ing this. 

Well, Ohtani won’t be moving out of Southern California after all. After Nez Balelo’s endeavor to get his client the most lucrative contract ever, the Dodgers, could not be happier. Though the unicorn came with a massive price tag, it’s worth celebrating considering the deal’s returns and the look of the Dodgers stadium for the upcoming decade. 

A Deep Dive Into Shohei Ohtani’s Historically Lucrative Contract

On Saturday, the 2X unanimous MVP took to Instagram to share the news. His humble words started with an apology and then revealed that “I have decided to choose the Dodgers as my next team.” When the details were further revealed, it became clear that it is Ohtani’s contract in the sporting world that is the new scale for measuring deals. But what was the reasoning backing this decision given that the Japanese star is still recovering from his elbow injury? 

He is definitely unlike any other baseball player, both on and off the field. The Dodgers are taking a leap of faith because he is more than just a player. Thanks to his skill and his marketability. The Blue Crew expect all 81 regular-season games at Dodger Stadium to be full, with fans from Japan and around the globe watching and purchasing from a distance.

Apart from that, the element of having an international player held in such high regard will not only help MLB but also baseball as a sport all over the world. Additionally, LA’s proximity to Hollywood and a large market, in general, poses a remunerative outcome for the team. The gargantuan deal then is justified because “This is a unique, historic contract, for a unique, historic player.”

When the Dodgers Believed That Shohei Ohtani Was Enroute Toronto Sign With the Blue Jays

Having said all that, it is impossible not to mention Friday night’s fiasco. There were reports that Ohtani was heading to Toronto to sign the deal with the Blue Jays which naturally tensed up the executives of the Dodgers. Though the reports were then concluded false, the wave of anxiety that came by LA was unmatched. After all, a lot is at stake emotionally and financially when a team plans to sign a $700 million deal with a player they have been chasing for over 10 years. 

Read More : “Not in Toronto”: MLB Insider Breaks Down Shohei Ohtani Free Agency Secrets

When Ohtani signed with the Nippon Ham Fighters in 2012, they lost out on him. When he signed with the Angels in 2017 and the National League had no DH, they missed out on him. And now, in order to accommodate Ohtani, the Dodgers had been dedicatedly working fifteen months to free up payroll space. And finally when the time came, the (false) reports imaginably crushed their spirits. One of the executives said, “You just don’t know. That’s the best way to describe it. We just didn’t know. It was not a comfortable feeling.” In the end, all’s well that ends well. 

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