Ohtani joins Dodgers on biggest deal in sport history

Consider that “top priority” handled for the Dodgers -- and emphatically so.

After a fervent sweepstakes, reigning American League Most Valuable Player Shohei Ohtani has agreed to terms with the Dodgers on a record-demolishing 10-year, $700 million deal, according to his agent, Nez Balelo.

“To all Dodgers fans, 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 an Instagram post on Saturday. “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 record contract was expected for the 29-year-old, who's coming off one of the greatest individual seasons in MLB history.

Ohtani hit .304/.412/.654 with a 44 home runs and 95 RBIs over 135 games with the Angels last year. And not only did Ohtani dominate at the dish, he was also magnificent on the mound, where he sported a 3.14 ERA and struck out 167 batters in 132 innings. The unprecedented two-way showing earned Ohtani his second unanimous AL MVP trophy, making him the first two-time unanimous MVP in MLB history.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed earlier this week that Ohtani met with the team, but at the time didn't offer any indication of how the meeting went. 

Ohtani's deal with the Dodgers breaks the previous record of $426.5 million, which was part of the 12-year deal given to Angels superstar outfielder Mike Trout in 2019.

Ohtani is not expected to pitch until the 2025 season, but Dr. Neal ElAttrache told reporters that he will be able to hit full-time in 2024.

Ohtani, considered by many as the modern day Babe Ruth, now has an opportunity to surpass the Great Bambino and win multiple World Series titles. If he can accomplish this over the course of the next ten years with the Dodgers, he can create history again as the greatest baseball player of all time.

For the game itself, Ohtani’s landing in a major American market, closer to his rabid fans in Japan than eastern-seaboard cities, is a major coup. And the Dodgers are an ideal fit. Baseball earned plenty of positive momentum coming out of the 2023 regular season. Innovations like the pitch clock and bigger bases shortened games, added action, and boosted attendance. But something was still missing: Ohtani participating in the postseason. The Angels could never assemble a competitive team worthy of Ohtani’s talents. Now he’s joining a team that’s reached the playoffs in 11 straight seasons. He has a real shot of leading the Dodgers back to the World Series, which the team won in 2020. He’s right where he belongs. 

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Sarah H

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