Japanese baseball pitcher Shohei Ohtani has officially signed a 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers worth $700 million USD. The deal, which is the largest in baseball history, will see Ohtani step onto the pitching mound for his former team’s cross-city opponent next season, following six monumental seasons with the Los Angeles Angels.
“I pledge to always do what’s best for the team and always continue to give it my all to be the best version of myself,” Ohtani wrote in his announcement on Instagram. “Until the last day of my playing career, I want to continue to strive forward not only for the Dodgers but for the baseball world.”
The majority of Ohtani’s salary will be deferred, in order to lower the cost of the “competitive-balance-tax hit” and to allow the team build an even stronger roster, per ESPN‘s Jeff Passan. The deferral was Ohtani’s own idea, according to Passan’s sources.
Last month, the 29-year-old athlete became the first baseball player to win MVP by unanimous vote twice. He took home the title for the first time in 2021, and he was the runner-up in 2022.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone involved with the Angels organization and the fans who have supported me over the past six years, as well as to everyone involved with each team that was part of this negotiation process,” Ohtani added. “Especially to the Angels fans who supported me through all the ups and downs, your guys’ support and cheer meant the world to me. The six years I spent with the Angels will remain etched in my heart forever.”
