Shohei Ohtani picks the Los Angeles Dodgers
The two-way star is headed to the NL West on a massive ten-year, $700 million deal
Coming into the MLB Winter Meetings, the biggest storyline was where two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani would be playing baseball next year.
We now have our answer.
According to the superstar himself, he is headed to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ohtani announced the decision with this post on Instagram:
According to Jeff Passan, the deal is for ten years, and a whopping $700 million:
Shohei Ohtani's deal with the Dodgers is for 10 years and $700 million.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 9, 2023
Passan added this update regarding the compensation structure:
Shohei Ohtani's contract has significant deferrals that include most of his salary -- an idea, a source said, that was Ohtani's. In deferring the money, it reduces the cost of the competitive-balance-tax hit and will allow the Dodgers to build a better team around him.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 9, 2023
By structuring the deal this way, the Dodgers should be able to put a more competitive team around him, which could help guarantee Ohtani enjoys his first taste of playoff baseball next season.
Ohtani is coming off his second MVP season, and perhaps his best year at the dish. The slugger posted a 304/.412/.654 slash line, with the .412 on-base percentage representing a career-high mark, as well as his .654 slugging percentage. Those added up to an OPS of 1.066, also a career-high number for him.
Of course, that told just part of his 2023 story. Ohtani was also impressive on the bump, as he posted a 10-5 record as a starting pitcher, with an ERA of 3.14 and a WHIP of 1.061 over 23 starts. However, his new team will have to wait to see him on the hill, as Ohtani suffered a UCL injury near the end of the season. He underwent surgery to repair the torn tendon back in September, and will be unable to pitch next season.
But he can still hit, and apparently, that is worth a lot.
At least to the Dodgers.