Los Angeles Dodgers lineup vs. San Diego Padres, CC by Liscense 2.0
The Los Angeles Dodgers changed the game of baseball. They have proven to the world that they have no real limit on who they will sign and for how much money. Last offseason we saw them sign Shohei Ohtani, arguably one of the most talented players of all time, to a 10-year deal, a move that started a cascade of signings that led to the Dodgers winning the 2024 World Series without New York. Yankees” to a great response.
The real problem with Ohtani’s contract, at least in the eyes of baseball fans, was the insanity of the deferred money.Instead of the $70 million his contract calls for, the Japanese star will earn $2 million a year from 2024 to 2034 and then $68 million a year for the next 10. The move allowed Los Angeles to commit more money through the 2024 season and beyond having won as many championships as possible over the next 10 years.A total of $680 million will be out of Ohtani’s contract through 2035.
There was immediate outcry from baseball fans about this structure, but it’s hardly the first time deferred money has been used for MLB talent contracts. No team in. The deferred amount is $1.2365 billion.In addition to Otani’s $680 million contribution, there are Blake Snell $65 million, Mookie Betts $115 million, Freddie Freeman $57 million, Will Smith $50 million, Teoscar Hernandez $23.5 million, Tommy Edman $25 million and lastly Scott $25 million.
The way these signings have played out over these two offseasons has been strange for baseball as a sport. Obviously, no team in history has dared to commit so much deferred money.Twitter user @BallParkBuzz has been found that the Dodgers have spent more money on their roster than the Tampa Bay Rays have spent in the last 11 seasons combined.When I see things like this money comparison, what the Dodgers are doing just seems wrong to me.
However, it is disappointing to say that this franchise is technically doing nothing wrong. What they’re doing is allowed by all the rules and regulations in place in Los Angeles. It’s like they’ve started a cult in Los Angeles by recruiting top talent and putting them on deferred payment plans. It’s allowed them to put together some of the craziest baseball rosters of all time one in 2025, which is extra disappointing considering they just won the World Series with a significantly less talented group.
The Dodgers’ main argument is that every team’s ownership group could do the exact same thing and offer players the same type of deferred money to build a championship team Ohatny chose to sign with the Dodgers. If you were a player, wouldn’t you take less money in the short term to be part of one of the most talented teams of all time? For. Shohei Ohtani’s influence is one thing. He managed to land another Japanese superstar in Yoshinobu Yamamoto last season when Rocky Sasaki announced he was signing with the Dodgers. So it the argument that every team can do these things is partly true, but there is only one team that has Shohei Ohtani.
The main feeling I think most fans have when it comes to what the Dodgers have been able to build is jealousy. Of course, every team wants what the Dodgers have. Every team wants a stacked roster. without the holes and depth that makes the Grand Canyon look shallow. But it was actually the result of something incredible in Los Angeles’ front office. If Shohei Ohtani A starting rotation of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Rocky Sasaki, Blake Snell and Dustin May, Clayton Kershaw or Tony Gonsolin is part of your favorite team, do you think you’d think about the amount of deferred money if the Dodgers can win even two or three more championships in the future? In 10 years, this little scheme they’re running will be extremely successful.
One comforting thing for Giants fans is that baseball still has 162 games to play in 2025, and absolutely anything can happen during those games. I’d rather not dwell on the fact that the Dodgers still had enough firepower to win a World Series with essentially zero strikeouts, but the highlight of the 2025 season will be seeing the Dodgers advance to the NLDS. Whom, but that might be even more difficult with the state this team is in. One thing is for sure, the rest of MLB is going to have to get even more used to that The Dodgers win the NL West every season.
