The wait is over. Shohei Ohtani has picked his next team — and signed the richest deal in North American sports history at the same time.
Ohtani has signed a deal with the Dodgers, providing a major boost to Los Angeles World Series hopes and giving the team the biggest star in the sport.
When Ohtani first arrived in Major League Baseball from Japan in 2018, there was plenty of speculation as to how effective he could be continuing his career as a two-way player. He had a solid rookie campaign with 22 home runs and a .285/.361/.564 slash line, but injured his elbow after 10 starts and wound up requiring Tommy John surgery.
But starting in 2021, a healthy Ohtani emerged as the sport’s true biggest stars. He had a 3.18 ERA in 130.1 innings on the mound, blasted 46 home runs and swiped 26 bases with a .257/.372/.592 line, earning the 2021 AL MVP in the process. He continued to build on that season in 2022, finishing only behind a 62-home run season by Aaron Judge in MVP voting.
He put together arguably his best season in 2023, slashing .304/.412/.654 with 44 homers and 20 steals with a 3.14 ERA in 132 innings en route to his second AL MVP. However, he injured his elbow late in the season, and wound up needing a second elbow procedure, which kept him from pitching the remainder of 2023 and will keep him off the mound in 2024.
But while Ohtani has dealt with injuries, his talents and marketability make him the most unique player perhaps ever to hit the open market in sports. Here’s what it took to sign him.
MORE: Shohei Ohtani and the biggest contracts in sports history
Shohei Ohtani contract details
Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers, shattering the record for not only the largest contract in MLB history, but in North American sports history, topping Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ 10-year, $503 million contract. It also surpassed former teammate Mike Trout’s 12-year, $426.5 million contract as the largest fully guaranteed deal in North American sports history.
Ohtani’s deal comes out to an average annual value (AAV) of $70 million per year, well ahead of the tie between Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer for $43.3 million.
However, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports the deal includes “unprecedented deferrals” that keep Ohtani’s average salary lower than $70 million per year. That means the Dodgers will be paying Ohtani well beyond 2033, when the deal ends, but the exact length of the deferrals is unknown.
Ohtani deal with Dodgers, per source, includes “unprecedented” deferrals – the majority of his salary. The deferrals were Ohtani’s idea to ease the Dodgers’ luxury-tax and cash flow burdens to give the team the flexibility needs to be as competitive as possible, the source said.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 9, 2023
Significant deferrals were Ohtani’s idea, according to multiple reporters, intended to help the Dodgers manage their luxury tax situation and still have room to add talent.
There had been plenty of speculation about what kind of contract Ohtani might sign. Some thought he could sign a one-year deal as he exclusively hit in 2024 as he recovered from his elbow. There was also a line of thought that he might sign a deal that featured plenty of opt-outs to give him the opportunity to be tested back out on the open market after a few seasons.
Instead, Ohtani signed the mega-deal he was expected to land before the 2023 season. He will be locked in with Dodgers through his age-39 season.
MORE SHOHEI OHTANI COVERAGE
How old is Shohei Ohtani?
Ohtani is 29 years old at the time of signing his contract with the Dodgers. He’ll be 39 when the deal expires in 2033.
Largest contracts in MLB history
Overall value
| Player | Signed Team | Length | Value |
| Shohei Ohtani | Dodgers | 10 | $700 million |
| Mike Trout | Angels | 12 | $426.5 million |
| Mookie Betts | Dodgers | 12 | $365 million |
| Aaron Judge | Yankees | 9 | $360 million |
| Manny Machado | Padres | 11 | $350 million |
| Francisco Lindor | Mets | 10 | $341 million |
| Fernando Tatis Jr. | Padres | 14 | $340 million |
| Bryce Harper | Phillies | 13 | $330 million |
| Giancarlo Stanton | Marlins | 13 | $325 million |
| Corey Seager | Rangers | 10 | $325 million |
Average annual value
| Player | Signed Team | Length | Value |
| Shohei Ohtani | Dodgers | 10 | $70 million |
| Max Scherzer | Mets | 3 | $43.3 million |
| Justin Verlander | Mets | 2 | $43.3 million |
| Aaron Judge | Yankees | 9 | $40 million |
| Jacob deGrom | Rangers | 5 | $37 million |
| Gerrit Cole | Yankees | 9 | $36 million |
| Mike Trout | Angels | 12 | $35.5 million |
| Carlos Correa | Twins | 3 | $35.1 million |
| Anthony Rendon | Angels | 7 | $35 million |
| Stephen Strasburg | Nationals | 7 | $35 million |
Biggest contracts in North American sports history
Overall value
| Athlete | Team | Years | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shohei Ohtani | Dodgers | 10 | $700 million |
| Patrick Mahomes | Chiefs | 10 | $503 million |
| Mike Trout | Angels | 12 | $426.5 million |
| Canelo Álvarez | DAZN | 5 | $365 million |
| Mookie Betts | Dodgers | 12 | $365 million |
| Aaron Judge | Yankees | 9 | $360 million |
| Manny Machado | Padres | 11 | $350 million |
| Francisco Lindor | Mets | 10 | $341 million |
| Fernando Tatís Jr. | Padres | 14 | $340 million |
| Bryce Harper | Phillies | 13 | $330 million |
Average annual value
| Athlete | Team | Years | AAV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canelo Álvarez | DAZN | 5 | $73 million |
| Shohei Ohtani | Dodgers | 10 | $700 million |
| Damian Lillard | Bucks | 2 | $60.9 million |
| Anthony Davis | Lakers | 3 | $59 million |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Bucks | 3 | $59 million |
| Jaylen Brown | Celtics | 5 | $57.7 million |
| Devin Booker | Suns | 4 | $55.7 million |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | Timberwolves | 4 | $55.6 million |
| Nikola Jokic | Nuggets | 5 | $55.2 million |
| Joe Burrow | Bengals | 5 | $55 million |
| Stephen Curry | Warriors | 4 | $53.8 million |
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