An initial report from an apparently reputable Dodgers reporter has Ohtani signing with Toronto. No confirmation yet.
Update: ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez now says Ohtani has not made his decision yet.
Update: lots more reporters saying no decision has been made.
Internet sleuths have been tracking what they believe to be Ohtani’s plane to Toronto.
This is goofy and silly and fun, as long as he doesn’t sign with a team I hate.
The Astros will have to face him more often and possibly in the postseason, but I’d rather see the Blue Jays get him than the Dodgers. I would enjoy not having the Dodgers or Yankees not end up with a free agent of his caliber.
Unless Ohtani ruled them out because of their ballpark or other factors, I’m a bit surprised the Giants aren’t in the final two. They have been desperately looking for a face of the franchise since Bryce Harper picked the Phillies over them.
If not Houston, I’d also want him to land in San Francisco.
I’d rather see the Blue Jays get him over the Dodgers because fuck the Dodgers, but selfishly I think it’s a bonus if we get to watch him play as often as possible.
You had me at fuck the Dodgers.
I’ll still be surprised if he doesn’t end up a Dodger.
Morosi reports Ohtani is indeed en route to Toronto but has not signed an agreement with any team. The rumored “Ohtani plane” is due to land there in a few minutes. It’ll be extremely funny if it’s not him.
Every tall Asian walking through the Toronto airport is being thoroughly scrutinized.
If he calls everyone a hoser and plays beer roulette (if I remember correctly) might not recognize him.
Per Jeff Passan, Ohtani has agreed to a ten year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers.
Holy shit.
The only appropriate reaction
First, screw the Dodgers.
Second, this could be the contract that breaks the sport as we know it and forces MLB to institute a salary cap. At $70 million annually, Ohtani is going to make more than or at least 75% of the entire payrolls of teams like the Pirates, A’s, Royals, Reds, Marlins and Rays. That’s insane.
According to Rosenthal:
Ohtani deal with Dodgers, per source, includes “unprecedented” deferrals - the majority of his salary. The deferrals were Ohtani’s idea to ease the Dodgers’ luxury-tax and cash flow burdens to give the team the flexibility needs to be as competitive as possible, the source said.
Not crazy to think he’ll be making $1B on this contract.
I find this entirely possible.
Reportedly no opt outs and “significant deferrals”
It’s a risk for the Dodgers since Ohtani just had his second Tommy John Surgery, which brings into question what pitching value will they get from him. That said, it’s not a good look for the league to have one team with a $70 million player and a bunch of teams with entire payrolls smaller than his annual salary.
Not to mention, allowing salary on a new contract to be deferred for years after the contract expires to reduce the CBT hit during the life of the contract is a loophole that needs to be closed.
Even if there are deferrals, a 10/700 deal should be a 70/yr CBT hit. To write the CBA otherwise seems asinine.
Dodgers are now a lock to possibly advance beyond the Division Series, maybe
