WHAT ARE THE DODGERS COOKING? Shohei Ohtani (大谷 翔平) and more...
- Josh Werner
- Dec 18, 2023
- 3 min read
Credit: ClutchPoints
The Los Angeles Dodgers are cooking this offseason! They are making statement signings to add to their already stacked roster full of superstars. Notably, the biggest free agent ever and another established top of the rotation ace are the two headliners. Read the full article to find out exactly who the Dodgers signed...
Shohei Ohtani
One week ago, on December 11th, 2023, Japanese superstar free-agent Shohei Ohtani signed a 10 year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ohtani measures 6 foot 4 inches, and the pitcher and designated hitter will be 29 years old heading into the 2024 Major League Baseball season.
This is obviously one of the biggest offseason moves in the history of Major League Baseball (due to Ohtani unprecedented success over the past six years, 2 AL MVP's/19.6 WAR).
This is also the largest contract in the history of professional sports. ($700 million face value beats out Lionel Messi's $674 million contract with FC Barcelona from 2017 to 2021).
While one might think Shohei will be getting paid $70 million every year from now until 2033, the contract includes deferrals. This means that through the life of Ohtani's current contract from 2024 to 2033, he will be getting only $2 million a year. Then from 2034 to 2043 he will be getting paid the other $68 million per year. Also, there is an opt out clause in the deal that allows Ohtani to cancel the contract and leave the team at any time if Dodgers owner, Mark Walter, or President of Baseball Operations, Andrew Friedman, leave the organization.
Ohtani allowed the contract to be structured this way so that it helps limit the Dodgers 2024 payroll, which is currently projected to be $250 million. With the 2024 Competitive Balance Tax being $237 million, any team who exceeds that amount on their payroll must pay additional fees and taxes to better constrain the rich, big-market teams from using absurd amounts of money to win. By putting Ohtani's salary on a deferral structure, they are benefitting from their short-term payroll limits to ultimately be at the cost of their long-term financial health. Evidently, the Dodgers are going all in to bring in players like Shoehi and other stars for their ultimate goal to WIN NOW.
Tyler Glasnow
On December 16th, 2023, the Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays completed a trade that would send Rays' ace starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow, outfielder Manuel Margot, and $4 million in cash to the Dodgers in exchange for young prospects Ryan Pepiot and Jonny DeLuca going to Tampa Bay. The trade was dependent on Glasnow signing a contract extension with the Dodgers, so resultantly he signed a five year contract worth $136.5 million, with a club and player option worth $21.5 million for the 2028 season.
The 30 year old, 6 foot 8 inch right handed pitcher has a career 3.89 ERA in 8 years he has been in the big leagues. It is important to note that Glasnow has never completed a full season, starting the typical 30-33 games for starting pitcher metrics. While injury problems have been prevalent through Tyler's career, the potential and ability he has on the mound has always been there. The Dodgers are hoping he can showcase the reason they traded for him and gave him a large contract when he dons the Dodger blue come the start of next season.
Conclusion
The quest for the Dodger's 8th World Series Championship in franchise history is clearly stated in the fact that "the team has made deferred salaries a central strategy to their efforts to sign veteran stars, win now and spread liabilities down the road," as outlined by NBC News. It has also been reported that the Dodgers are in the hunt for Yoshinobu Yamamoto, with newly acquired Ohtani being active in the recruitment of his fellow Japanese superstar to join the Dodgers from Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. Their main competition will be with both the New York Mets and New York Yankees. If the Dodgers could land Yamamoto.
Only time will tell if the Dodgers' signings of Ohtani and Glasnow will pay off. Being realistic, the Dodgers are expecting to win two to three World Series titles at minimum over the life of Ohtani's contract. This is because along with the other stars they have like Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Walker Buehler, etc, their only expectation is to win the World Series. But, the Dodgers 2024 offseason will be looked at as a success no matter what. When you can sign Shohei Ohtani, you sign Shohei Ohtani!
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