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Shohei Ohtani’s record-breaking contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers has sent shockwaves through the sports world. Numerous highly paid athletes, including Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, were also surprised and expressed their amazement on social media. It also sparked some significant discussions on the ability of athletes to secure such lucrative deals. Boston Celtics legend Kevin Garnett also weighed in, noting the smaller number of American athletes achieving such similar financial milestones and success.

The Big Ticket shared his opinion on his IG story. It read, “How come all foreigners come over here n get a Crazy Bag.. but AMERICANS CAN’T EVEN Come CLOSE tooo SOME OF THESE NUMBERS… n pls don’t say ishhh about 330.. it’s not 700 .. or 1.5 billi.. just saying.” Looking to gain more insight into this debate, he asked his followers, “Like can we go to other countries and get a crazy bag Like they do? Haven’t seen it yet but pls share!!  NO HATE JUST OBSERVING THE flow.”

Following the announcement, several celebrities promptly expressed their faith in the value of Ohtani’s talent that matches the deal’s amount. Nevertheless, Garnett’s perspective urges people to delve deeper into the entire situation.

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The Japanese baseball star has redefined the landscape of North American sports contracts with his groundbreaking deal. He signed a $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. His deal far surpasses the NBA’s largest guaranteed contract of Jaylen Brown. The Celtics re-signed their star on a 5-year, $304 million deal in the summer. Ohtani’s deal is not only the largest in Major League Baseball (MLB) history but also catapults him into the ranks of the world’s highest-earning athletes.

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Shohei Ohtani’s jaw-dropping $700 million deal comes with a twist

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Furthermore, the 29-year-old earns about $50 million annually from lucrative endorsements and various deals. This major deal not only highlights Ohtani’s outstanding talent and worth but also signals a noteworthy change in the dynamics of sports negotiations. However, in a surprising development, Ohtani won’t be making $70 million a year as the deal entails.

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Instead, the majority of that salary will come in from 2034 onwards. ESPN’s Jeff Passan revealed, “Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million contract calls for him to be paid only $2 million a year for the next 10 seasons, with $680 million deferred until the end of the deal.” This will allow the Dodgers to have flexibility in the market.

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What do you think about the continually changing landscape of North American sports and Garnett’s opinion? Do you think American athletes will be able to secure such deals in other countries? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

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