Toronto – and Canada – was impatient. But it is ultimately with the Los Angeles Dodgers that Shohei Ohtani will continue his career.
The Japanese baseball superstar has accepted a 10-year offer that will worth him $700 million, according to tipster Jeff Passan.
One of the most adored athletes on Earth thus signs the most lucrative agreement in the history of… world sport. The old major league baseball record belonged to Mike Trout, with a 12-year, $426.5 million pact signed in 2019 with the Los Angeles Angels.
Thus, Ohtani will ultimately not have to move, he who has played with Trout and the Angels in Anaheim since his arrival in the United States in 2018. In six seasons in MLB, he has still not participated in the playoffs.
PHOTO JACK DEMPSEY, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Shohei Ohtani at the MLB All-Star Game in July 2021.
“I apologize to all the fans and people involved in the world of baseball for taking so long to come to a decision,” the Japanese underlined in an Instagram post.
That’s because on Friday, Toronto Blue Jays fans were buzzing all day: a rumor that Ohtani was on a private jet leaving from Anaheim for the Queen City spread like wildfire among the fans. social networks. The story ended up being denied by a few journalists at the end of the day. The Blue Jays seemed to be in the race to acquire the free agent until the very end, that said.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Angels organization and their fans, who have supported me over the past six years. […] They will remain engraved in my heart forever. »
To Dodgers fans, I promise to always do my best for the team, and to bring you the best version of myself.
Shohei Ohtani
Why was Shohei Ohtani so sought after? This is because the Japanese is recognized for his elite skills as a pitcher and hitter, a unique duality in major baseball. Ohtani hit 44 homers and drove in 95 runs in 135 games last season. On the mound, he was 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA in 23 starts.
He underwent elbow surgery in August that will keep him from pitching until 2025, but he should be ready to play as a designated hitter in the spring.
The 29-year-old right-hander was unanimously named the American League Most Valuable Player.
The 10 biggest contracts in sports history (in US dollars)
- Shohei Ohtani, 10 years, 700 million – Los Angeles Dodgers
- Lionel Messi, 4 years old, 674 million – FC Barcelona
- Cristiano Ronaldo, 2 and a half years, 536 million – Al-Nassr
- Patrick Mahomes, 10 years, 450 million – Kansas City Chiefs
- Mike Trout, 12 years, 426.5 million – Los Angeles Angels
- Mookie Betts, 12 years old, 365 million – Los Angeles Dodgers
- Canelo Álvarez, 5 years, 365 million – DAZN
- Aaron Judge, 9 years old, 360 million – New York Yankees
- Manny Machado, 11 years old, 350 million – San Diego Padres
- Francisco Lindor, 10 years, 341 million – New York Mets