It’s regarded as the largest contract in staff sports activities historical past by whole worth, and it belongs to Japan’s baseball famous person Ohtani Shohei.

The 29-year-old two-way participant, who’s famend as each an influence hitter and wonderful pitcher, introduced he had chosen to signal with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday (9 December). The deal is for 10 years and value U.S. $700 million in whole worth, in line with Ohtani’s agent.

However, Ohtani won’t be able to pitch in 2024 and can serve solely as a delegated hitter after present process season-ending surgical procedure on an elbow injury again in September.

The deal retains him within the Los Angeles space, with Ohtani having spent the earlier six seasons in Anaheim with the Los Angeles Angels. In his time with the Angels, Ohtani was named the MLB American League Most Valuable Player twice, in 2021 and 2023. He was a unanimous choice as MVP in each years, one thing no different participant has achieved within the award’s historical past. However, the Angels didn’t make the playoffs in any of these years.

In 2023, Ohtani additionally performed on the Japanese nationwide staff that won the World Baseball Classic, registering the final out on the mound earlier than being named match MVP. His reputation extends all throughout Japan, with even the figure skating legend Hanyu Yuzuru having cited him as an inspiration.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers are one in all MLB’s powerhouse groups and can subsequent season characteristic three of the 4 top-ranked gamers in 2023 within the Wins Above Replacement stat: Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman. The Dodgers final gained the World Series within the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.