Ohtani’s Agent Explains Why ‘Nobody Should Be Surprised’ By Unique Contract Structure

Shohei Ohtani’s historic 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers shocked the MLB world, especially when it was revealed that $680 million of that deal will be deferred without interest. That means that Ohtani will only be making $2 million a year over the next 10 years in Los Angeles in an attempt to make it easier for the Dodgers to make the team better.

While the entire world couldn’t believe that Ohtani agreed to this kind of contract structure, Ohtani’s agent Nez Balelo said that shouldn’t be the case. In fact, it was Ohtani who first suggested that they structure the contract as such.

“Nobody should be surprised,” Balelo told Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci. “Everything he does is unique and impeccably well thought out. Who in their right mind gets to this level and decides he wants to help the team and the city compete above all else and basically says, ‘I don’t need it.’ Nobody does that. But there is nobody like him. This is the epitome of thinking about others, of pure intentions.”

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani agreed to a heavily deferred contract with the team.

Kiyoshi Mio/USA Today network

With the deferrals, Ohtani’s deal will count as $46.06 million against the luxury tax, opening up $23.94 million that wouldn’t have been there before. That money allows Los Angeles to pursue top free agents like Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Josh Hader this year.

Verducci also reported that Ohtani will earn close to $50 million in endorsements alone next year, which makes it easier for him to defer the majority of his contract. Still, it takes a lot of moxie to defer 97% of a $700 million deal.

“This is who he is, who he always has been,” Balelo said. He is coming in not as someone above all others, but as a complementary player to help the team win.”