It was a hectic week amidst Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes until his contract materialized with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 2023 MVP signed a $700 million deal, entering a league of his own. However, it seems the run behind him is still not over, all thanks to his latest decision that might give future athletes a thought to work on.
Ohtani was expected to earn $70 million per season starting from next year. However, that won’t be the case due to a change in approach from the star player. Reportedly, the two-way phenom agreed on deferred payments, which will take his earnings to 2034. It will give a buffer despite losing hundreds of millions to the team that may win him a World Series. But that’s not all. There is more to his futuristic move.
Shohei Ohtani Loses $240 Million Days Later of the Big Move
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It has been a unique journey for the MLB star Shohei Ohtani. He signed a $700 million contract, ripping the historic charts to claim the top spot in highest-earning players. But it all changed again after MLB lowered his contract value, making him lose $240 million in a go.
MLB calculates Shohei Ohtani’s contract at $460 million for CBT purposes. https://t.co/mFjaDGvhnn
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 12, 2023
According to Bob Nightengale, MLB has calculated his contract as $460 million for CBT purposes. This means a sharp reduction in the contract value, in losses worth life-long deals for many baseball players. However, this big loss does not change anything, and Ohtani may be a winner. How come?
The Japanese Wonder Is Still a Winner Despite All the Losses
Money is a big factor for any professional athlete. The same is true with Shohei Ohtani, who earned it through his performances. His big contract was another example of his identity as a player. But all changed with the reduced value. However, there is nothing to worry about for Ohtani, it seems.
Shohei Ohtani deferring $680 million of his $700 million record-breaking contract will not only help the Dodgers sign additional players — but if Ohtani moves out of California from 2034 onward, he could save hundreds of millions on taxes, too. Genius.
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) December 11, 2023
According to Joe Pompliano, the reason behind it was his move away from California at the end of 2034. Indicating it, he shared, “If Ohtani moves out of California from 2034 onward, he could save hundreds of millions on taxes, too. Genius.”
Noticeably, it pointed to the possibility that the rest of the earnings for Ohtani would start only after 2034, with the remaining 680 million coming into the play. If it happens, other athletes can follow suit to save money using the same approach. This can change the sporting spectrum in the MLB and the entire sporting circle. Interesting! But will the authorities let this happen? Let us know your observations in the comments.
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