While we can look at the numbers he’s produced on the field and the marketing revenue he’s made from it, there’s simply no way to truly summarize the effect the Japanese two-way sensation has had on sports. That said, we can try.
What is Shohei Ohtani’s situation right now?
The World Series is now over and it’s time to focus on more important things, like the future of the Los Angeles Angels superstar, Shohei Ohtani. At 29 years old, Ohtani has as much influence on the field as he does off it, which is to say he is a global icon. Although he recently underwent elbow surgery that will likely keep him from pitching until 2025, the reality is that it won’t stop him from landing the most lucrative contract in MLB history, with the general consensus being that the deal will exceed $500 million. . When you consider the idea that over the course of his career he posted a 148 OPS+ and a 145 ERA+, it’s not really surprising.
Yet even though we’ve heard numbers floating around, questions remain not only about what Ohtani stands to earn, but also how long such a contract will last and, of course, who will offer it. When it comes to the team’s hope of drafting the best player in baseball, most agree it will be one of three: the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants or Mets. New York – you can read more about it here – but as far as the nature of the contract is concerned, we can really only follow what is being said in the industry.
What has been said about Shohei Ohtani’s potential contract?
As mentioned previously, the general number mentioned several times is $500 million in a contract that would span 10 years or more. While this isn’t definitive, it’s certainly consistent with what most people think. sources said. On the other hand, some are also projecting a figure of $545 million over nine years. Last but not least, there was a projected $550 with an opt-out clause arriving at the conclusion of his first season. That said, we should say that in all scenarios, opt-outs were included.
What is an “opt-out” clause?
If you didn’t know, opt-out clauses are the way teams can give players more incentive to join them, while avoiding any conflict with the team. Competitive balance tax which essentially imposes a salary cap on every team in the league. By giving players the right to terminate their contract if they wish at the agreed time, teams can avoid having to pay players more up front, i.e. going over the salary cap. As you can imagine, this is common practice when dealing with top-tier talent and will almost certainly be used in any offer made to Ohtani given that he is literally the best player in the MLB.
Can MLB salary history serve as a guide?
While this doesn’t necessarily guarantee that Ohtani will get the projected number we’ve seen, it stands to reason that a look at the biggest contracts in baseball today can provide some insight into what we can expect. Below we can see the five most lucrative contracts at the moment, along with their duration:
- Mike Trout – $426,500,000 (2019-30)
- Bets on Mookie – $365,000,000 (2021-32)
- Aaron judges – $360,000,000 (2023-31)
- Manny Machado – $350,000,000 (2023-33)
- Francisco Lindor – $341,000,000 (2022-31)
Considering who Ohtani is and what he brings to the table – with all due respect to the stars mentioned above, you have to think that a $500 million contract is definitely within the realm of possibility, if not out of the question. certainty. For now, all we can do is watch and wait.
