What Ohtani's $700 million deal means for Dodgers, rest of MLB - ESPN

Shohei Ohtani is a Dodger! For a long time, and for a lot of money. After a wild week of rumors (and several more weeks of silence preceding it), Ohtani announced his decision on Instagram: He's leaving the Los Angeles Angels to head crosstown to join the Los Angeles Dodgers. His deal, for 10 years and $700 million, dwarfs every professional contract in MLB and in American sports. How does it change Dodgers' 2024 outlook — and the MLB landscape? Our MLB experts weigh in on the big questions about this very big deal.

Alden Gonzalez: Here's my best attempt to put this into context: When the year began and it was suggested that Ohtani could sign the first $500 million contract in North American sports history, people were shocked. Then he tore his ulnar collateral ligament, underwent Tommy John surgery — or some version of it — for the second time and put his pitching career in serious jeopardy. And he signed for $700 million. That's more than the two largest prior free agent contracts combined ($360 million for Aaron Judge, $330 million for Bryce Harper). It is truly unbelievable. But it says a lot not just about the uniqueness of Ohtani, but of the additional revenue he brings in.

Kiley McDaniel: Even with the big deferrals — «most» of the contract according to our reporting — this is more than anyone was expecting. Mookie Betts' $365 million deal with the Dodgers has a lot of deferred money and is valued for CBT (competitive balance tax) purposes by MLB at just over $306 million. We don't know the full terms of the deferrals yet, but if the proportions are the same, that puts Ohtani at roughly $588 million. That's a number that's a bit above expectations post-injury, but not by that much. I'd imagine before the end of