The Los Angeles Dodgers have gone on a shopping-spree this free agency, signing many big name players. Some notable signings include: pitcher and Designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, pitcher Tyler Glassnow, left fielder Teoscar Hernández, along with many others.
The Dodgers started the offseason hot by signing two time MVP Shohei Ohtani to a 10-year, $700 million contract. The contract is structured to pay $2 million a year, over the next ten years (till 2034). After 2034, he will receive $68 million a year for the following ten years (till 2043). By deferring the majority of the contract till 2034, this allows the Dodgers to spend more money this off-season, and build a better roster. Othani suffered a UCL tear in 2023, resulting in Tommy John surgery. This limits him to only being able to hit until 2025.
“Ohtani is an unbelievable player. I don’t care if they offered him $5 Billion Dollars, it would still be justified. In my opinion, he is the most gifted athlete of all time. I mean his versatility is like no other, he can turn an entire franchise around. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Dodgers won the next three World Series under him,” NHS junior Mikey Quesenberry said.
Even with the new team, Othani’s mindset is still the same.
“Going forward with the Dodgers, I feel the same, pretty much the same as I did six years ago. I feel like I’m always a challenger. I always love challenges and I feel like I’ll be facing a lot of new challenges as a Dodger and I’m ready for it,” Ohtani said.
“I feel like I’m always a challenger. I always love challenges and I feel like I’ll be facing a lot of new challenges as a Dodger and I’m ready for it”
Following the signing of Ohtani, the Dodgers signed pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a 12 years, $325 million deal. Similar to Ohtani’s, the majority of Yamamoto’s salary is deferred till the mid 2030s. Before signing with the Dodgers, Yamamoto played overseas in the Nippon Professional Baseball league, winning the Pacific League Most Valuable Player award three times.
“Although Yoshinobu Yamamoto hasn’t played a single MLB game yet, I still believe he will be one of the top pitchers in the league. Even though the league he formally played in is nowhere near as competitive as the MLB, the things he did there were incredible. He earned this opportunity, and I believe he will be a star in the MLB,” NHS junior Ilir Kaliki said.
By deferring the majority of both Ohtani and Yamamoto’s contracts to the future, the Dodgers were able to spend more money now and sign more free agents this offseason. They signed former Tampa Bay Rays’ pitcher Tyler Glasnow to a five-year, $136.5 million contract, Seattle Mariners left fielder Teoscar Hernández to a one-year, $23.5 million contract, and Rays’ center fielder Manuel Margot to a one-year, $9.5 million contract.
The Dodgers decision to defer some players' contracts comes with a risk. Although it gives them more money now, it also puts the entirety of their franchise at jeopardy. If they can not afford to pay off the contracts when the time comes, they will have to file for bankruptcy.
“I mean what they are doing is crazy, they are putting the entirety of their franchise on the line in order to win now. It's like what the [Los Angeles] Rams did a couple years ago where they traded away all their draft picks to win now. The thing is the Dodgers have a whole lot more on the line then the Rams did, I mean their franchise could literally go bankrupt. If they don’t become a dynasty, then I would consider these signings a failure,” NHS junior Wes Keayes said.
Fanduel currently has the Dodgers as the favorite to win the 2024 World Series at +350.
“The Dodgers will win the 2023 World Series. Print it out. Put it in plastic. Bring it to the parade. The Dodgers are just relentless enough, just resilient enough, and just resourceful enough to survive a postseason that will bend to their undying will,” The Los Angeles Times Columnist Bill Plaschke said.
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