Last Saturday afternoon was just a normal Saturday afternoon, and then, like a lightning bolt, we were all hit with the news about Shohei Ohtani. He had signed the single largest sports contract in history. The Dodgers outbid everyone to the tune of $700 million over 10 years. His average salary is larger than the payrolls of two other baseball teams.
That was out of this world and simply amazing! But then you realize he spent the past six years in Anaheim with the Angels. That means the Dodgers were just waiting for their moment to raid their neighbor’s roster. So they put their money where their mouth is, and Shohei Ohtani leaves Anaheim for Chavez Ravine.
Then, two days later, it’s announced that Ohtani wants to win so badly, he’s going to defer all the money except for $2 million per season. And when he’s done playing, he will receive $68 million per year for 10 straight years.
It was his idea, and he did it because he wants the Dodgers to be able to buy good players so they can win a championship. How will he make it on just $2 million per year? Rather easily when you learn he makes over $50 million for commercials, marketing, and other off-the-field work.
Ohtani is 29 years old and single, and in Tinseltown, and rich. You do the math.