(Photo by Ron Schwane/Getty Images)
After months of speculation, we finally know where Shohei Ohtani will play for the next 10 years.
He signed a completely unprecedented 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers that will pay him $2 million per year from 2024 to 2033 and $68 million per year from 2034 to 2043, when his contract is up.
A lot of patience was required, but the Dodgers finally got their man and can start pairing him with some of the most talented players on Earth.
All that is left to do is officially introduce Ohtani as a member of the Dodgers organization.
That will happen this week, on Thursday, according to MLB insider Bob Nightengale.
“The Dodgers will formally introduce Shohei Ohtani at 3 p.m. (PT) on Thursday at press conference in center field at Dodger Stadium,” he tweeted.
The Dodgers will formally introduce Shohei Ohtani at 3 p.m. (PT) on Thursday at press conference in center field at Dodger Stadium
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 13, 2023
Ohtani will say his first words as a member of the 2020 World Series champs.
Most importantly, he will try to help the franchise return to the top after the playoff failures of 2021, 2022, and 2023, with the last two being first-round exits.
He will be an outfielder/designated hitter exclusively in 2024, since he can’t pitch due to an elbow injury.
He will be joining Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, Will Smith, Chris Taylor, James Outman, and Jason Heyward, among others, in what looks like a legendary lineup.
Starting in 2025, he will likely be able to go back to being a two-way player and return to the mound.
Last season, he had 44 home runs and a 1.066 OPS as a hitter and a 3.14 ERA in 132 innings as a pitcher.
It’s not hard to see why he costs $700 million.
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