The contract Shohei Ohtani signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers last week includes a historic amount of deferred money, but the approach is hardly a new one for the team.
Mookie Betts also has major deferrals in the 12-year, $365 million contract he signed with the Dodgers back in 2020. As Brandon Wile of The Score notes, Betts will be paid $11 million per year by the Dodgers from 2040 through 2044. That means the team will be paying Betts and Ohtani nearly $80 million combined when both are in their late-40s.
The Dodgers may regret these contracts years down the road, but they have made it a priority to contend for championships in the coming decade. By paying Ohtani only $2 million per year now and having deferrals in Betts’ contract, L.A. gains significant payroll flexibility in the short term.
Ohtani is the one who suggested the contract structure to the Dodgers, as he wants the team to have the flexibility to be as competitive as possible while he’s there. Now that much of the bill for Ohtani will not be due for another 11 years, L.A. might make a strong push to sign another superstar player.
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