Shohei Ohtani has signed a $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ohtani concluded the most anticipated and speculated free agency decision in MLB history by revealing on Instagram that he had chosen to sign with the Dodgers.

Ohtani’s contract surpasses Lionel Messi’s four-year, $674 million agreement he inked with FC Barcelona in 2017 to become the largest in professional sports history. The transaction also completely destroys the previous record-breaking MLB contract, worth $426.5 million, which Mike Trout signed with the Los Angeles Angels.

“I’m grateful to be a part of the Dodger fanbase,” Ohtani remarked. “I firmly believe that bringing World Series parades to Los Angeles’ streets is a goal that the Dodger organization, you, and I all share.”

Even though the contract has a sizable sum, Ohtani’s idea to defer most of the money is said to have made the deal worth less overall.

Ohtani’s salary will only be worth an estimated $50 million as a result of the deferrals, as opposed to the $70 million average annual value (AAV) that it would have previously. Additionally, it frees up the Dodgers’ cash flow, allowing them to keep adding players to strengthen their roster and minimize the competitive balance tax (CBT).

Furthermore, the $700 million will lose value over time as a result of inflation.

“We extend a warm welcome to Shohei Ohtani to the Los Angeles Dodgers and all of our fans worldwide. The Dodgers are the home team of three of the most illustrious and groundbreaking athletes in sports history: Jackie Robinson, Sandy Koufax, and Hideo Nomo. The Dodgers and Guggenheim Baseball chairman, Mark Walter, congratulated him on his historic contract with our legendary team.

“Shohei is among the world’s most exciting professional athletes and a once-in-a-generation talent. Together with Shohei, our players, staff, management, and ownership are eager to support the Dodgers in their ongoing efforts to add players, make improvements, and pursue excellence on the field. We will endeavor with Shohei to increase the quantity and variety of individuals worldwide who take pleasure in the thrill of Major League Baseball.

Ohtani’s contract is a testament to both his skill on the field and his stature as a global celebrity. Because of his enormous appeal to fans both domestically and abroad, he will present the Dodgers organization with enormous financial opportunities through marketing, sponsorships, and merchandise sales.

Ohtani is a unicorn on the field. Maybe the greatest athlete in sports history, with a talent that baseball has never seen before. In addition to being an excellent pitcher, Ohtani is one of baseball’s best hitters and combines both skills with remarkable speed.

Ohtani is the only player in any sport with two unanimous MVP Awards, one of which came this past season when he hit.304/.412/.654 with 26 doubles, eight triples, 44 home runs, 95 RBI, and 20 stolen bases in 599 plate appearances across 135 games.

Ohtani was 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA, 4.00 FIP, 1.06 WHIP, and 11.4 strikeouts per nine in 23 starts before he was shut down from pitching. Due to surgery on his right elbow, Ohtani will not be able to pitch in 2024; however, the Dodgers are optimistic that he will return to the mound in 2025, giving their staff an ace.

Over his career, Ohtani has hit.274/.366/.556 with 171 home runs and 19.9 WAR. On the mound, he has pitched to a 3.01 ERA and 3.31 FIP while striking out 11.36 per nine and walking 3.23 per nine, totaling 11.8 WAR.

In 2018, Ohtani made his Major League debut on March 29 against the Oakland Athletics, starting as the designated hitter. On April 1, after pitching six innings against Oakland, he recorded his first Major League victory and singled.

He would go on to win the American League Rookie of the Year as he finished his inaugural campaign with a.285 batting average,.361 OBP,.564 slugging percentage,.925 OPS, 22 homers, and 61 RBI, along with a 4-2 record and a 3.31 ERA in 11 starts.

Prior to coming to the United States, the 6-foot-4 Ohtani led the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters to the 2016 Pacific League Championship in an MVP season, hitting.322 with a 1.004 OPS, 22 homers, and 67 RBI while posting a 1.86 ERA with 174 strikeouts.

He made his professional debut at age 18 on March 29, 2013 and played five seasons in the Nippon Professional Baseball League, tallying 403 games, batting.286/.358/.501/.859 with 48 homers and 166 RBI at the plate, and a 42-15 mark with a 2.52 ERA and 624 strikeouts in 543 innings on the mound.

Ohtani will be the 11th Japanese-born player to wear a Dodger uniform, joining Dodger Manager Dave Roberts (2002–2004), Hideo Nomo (1995–1998, 2002–2004), Masao Kida (2003–2004), Kazuhisa Ishii (2002–2004), Norihiro Nakamura (2005), Takashi Saito (2006–2008), Hiroki Kuroda (2008–2011), Kenta Maeda (2016–2019), Yu Darvish (2017), and Yoshi Tsutsugo (2021).

The Dodgers’ rich tradition with Japan began while the team was still in Brooklyn, with goodwill tours to the country that featured the likes of Hall of Famers Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Gil Hodges, and Duke Snider. The Dodgers became the second team to introduce a Japanese-born player to the majors when Nomo broke through and went on to win the 1995 National League Rookie of the Year.

Originally born in Mizusawa, Oshu, Japan, Ohtani has played 11 professional seasons, receiving numerous accolades in his career, including Pacific League MVP (2016), American League MVP (2021, 2023), Nippon Professional Baseball League All-Star (2013-2017), American League All-Star (2021-2023), All-MLB First Team (2021-22), All-MLB Second Team (2021-2022), Pacific League Pitcher Best-Nine (2015-2016), Japan Professional Sports Grand Prize (2016, 2018), Louisville Silver Slugger (2021, 2023), Edgar Martinez Designated Hitter Award (2021-2023), and Japan Series Champion (2016).

Ohtani was the Dodgers’ top priority this offseason, and a player they have pursued signing going back to his time in high school and again in 2017 when he came to the MLB. At long last, Shohei Ohtani is a Dodger.

Dodgers cleared roster space to sign Shohei OhtaniAt the time of the reported agreement, the Dodgers had a full 40-man roster, with Joe Kelly also waiting to make his new contract official.

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers swung a trade with the New York Yankees, sending Jorbit Vivas and Victor González in exchange for Trey Sweeney, a prospect who will not take up a spot on the roster, thus clearing two spots.