The Japanese MLB superstar and two-time MVP Shohei Ohtani signed the largest contract in the history of North American sports|Mogami Kariya|CC BY-SA 2.0
Shohei Ohtani, the Japanese baseball sensation and a rare two-way player (pitching and hitting), has signed a record-breaking 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The deal, announced on Saturday, is nearly $275 million higher (64%) than previous records in baseball and even other sports.
It is believed to be the biggest contract signed by any athlete in global sports history.
It signifies the growing recognition of Japanese players as among the best in the Major League Baseball (MLB) scene. Other Japanese stars like Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shota Imanaga are also in demand during the off-season.
The Japanese MLB superstar, 29, previously played for the Los Angeles Angels for six years, where he earned two Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards.
He is the only player to have twice been unanimously selected as league MVP.
Ohtani’s unprecedented contract has sparked discussions about the economics of baseball since Japanese companies are expected to capitalize on Ohtani’s popularity by purchasing signage at Dodger Stadium.
The LA Dodgers contract is viewed as a long-term investment and could bring the team multiple World Series titles in the coming years, making Ohtani the face of the franchise and attracting a new generation of fans.