MLB
Dodgers’ updated rotation, lineup and payroll after acquiring Shohei Ohtani
The wait is over, and Shohei Ohtani chose the Los Angeles Dodgers as his new team in the Major League Baseball.
The information that had Major League Baseball fans in suspense has been confirmed: two-way player Shohei Ohtani has chosen his new team, the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The main interested parties in acquiring the player were the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Chicago Cubs, the Toronto Blue Jays, the Atlanta Braves, and even signing a new contract with the Los Angeles Angels.
According to Jeff Passan, and in the absence of official figures, Ohtani will sign a 10-year, $700 million contract, the largest guaranteed contract in the history of United States sports.
This is how the Dodgers’ lineup would look with Shohei Ohtani:
- 2B | Mookie Betts
- DH | Shohei Ohtani
- 1B | Freddie Freeman
- C | Will Smith
- 3B | Max Muncy
- CF | James Outman
- RF | Jason Heyward
- LF | Chris Taylor
- SS | Gavin Lux
The Dodgers’ new payroll
The Dodgers have signed a historic contract with Ohtani, which will likely have significant financial implications for the team. Currently, the team has an active payroll of $117 million, not including Ohtani’s deal. Ohtani’s deal does not have any opt-outs, according to ESPN.
The deal has an average annual value of $70 million, which could affect the Dodgers’ ability to pursue other free agents this winter. By the end of the contract, the Dodgers could be over the $237 million luxury tax threshold for the 2024 season, especially after having a payroll of over $240 million in 2023.
However, the SI pointed out that Ohtani’s contract includes “unprecedented” deferrals of the majority of his earnings, which will ease the Dodgers’ luxury tax and cash flow burdens. This will give the team the flexibility to be as competitive as possible. The deferrals were reportedly Ohtani’s idea.