Shohei Ohtani went to the Dodgers for embarrassingly large money. The Dodgers are expected to make that money back in advertising revenue. Still, the potential luxury tax penalties are not to be sneezed at. (This next article is not real- alert!) Shohei Ohtani meets his new batting coaches.
In other news, David Fletcher and Max Stassi were traded to the Braves for Evan White and Tyler Thomas, neither of whom will probably be on the 40 man roster. Max Stassi was forwarded to the White Sox for a PTBNL. It’s Logan O’Hoppe and Matt Thaiss, I guess.
This is idiotic: Because of Shohei Ohtani leaving the Angels, “MLB fans” are now demanding that the Angels trade Mike Trout. It’s not up to the Angels. Speaking of trades, the Marlins traded with the Guardians to receive catcher Christian Bethancourt for cash.
Left-hander Andrew Chafin is off to the Tigers on a one year deal. Pitchers Thomas Hatch and Taylor Hearn both signed with the Hiroshima Carp of the NPB. Will Smith, the pitcher, is going to the Royals on a one year deal worth $5 Million plus incentives. Austin Hedges will go to the Guardians for $4 Million.
Struggling right-handed pitcher Brett de Geus signed a minor league deal with the Mariners.
Photo credit: Rex Fregosi
its kind of ironic that the sports reporters really threw a wrench in Ohtani’s messaging. The contract was never 10/700. Nez never corrected that, in fact he lauded the $70m AAV and the incredulity spiraled from there.
This will only get worse if Yamamoto or Hader joins the Dodgers using “Ohtani deferred money”.
This whole situation is kinda funny considering the story line that Ohtani is a “quiet and humble” man. Words matter, and Ohtani’s camp screwed the pooch on the communication strategy
Why would they change the reported narrative? The MLBPA allows these massive deferred deals because they are more obsessed with the total Gross Contract amount and Gross Annual Average Value than actual conventional contract value .
Even adjusting for the deferments its a 10 year $460 million dollar deal which is still higher than any other conventional MLB FA contract to date. I’m sure the Blue Jays rumors scared the Doyers into upping the ante and ShoHei probably didnt care about the deferment as long as the adjusted contract value was still a record in both Total and AAV.
Blake Snell, yesterday: “hot dog! I’m gonna get me some big money!
Blake Snell, today: “you want me to what!?”
Does this mean Mike Trout is again the GOAT?
or the goat
goAt
And there it is. Angels’ official statement:
https://twitter.com/Angels/status/1734402279653212496
Not my feelings
Molly Jolly written all over that.
is molly jolly the new boogieman?
I had no idea until right now that there’s a real person named Molly Jolly working for the Angels
Well it’s not her maiden name so you cant blame her parents.
Really? How can you tell?
Cuz this seems like a Crapino move.
They don’t have to kiss his ass any longer. I would have expected something more in tune to how the fan base is feeling right now
I honestly didn’t expect anything less than polite and diplomatic in their statement. Arte already lost, I’m sure he didn’t want to be seen as a jilted ex-boyfriend just like Dan Gilbert and his comic sans angry memo.
If MLB allows these kind of contracts then what’s the point. I thought MLB wanted all teams to be competitive not a few. I guess if you are a sellout and winning championships at all cost no matter if it’s fair or not go to the dodgers. But why use the angels for six years because they are the only team who will let you have carte blanch and do both and then say thanks I wanted to be a dodger all along. Looking back I see Ohtani has been a selfish player all about himself doing things his way no matter if it helped the team or not. We all know Arte is a POS owner but he fooled us fans thinking he was about our teams all these years when he was only about himself. Fool me once…
Rage boner much?
You’re an idiot
I can rest easy today knowing two things: 1. Spending dollars and buying players does not translate into championships. Dodgers were already in the postseason before this signing and their style of baseball usually flops in the postseason. I don’t really care that they slithered their way from underneath a stagnant porta-potty to defer massive amounts of dollars. They will still choke. 2. Angels and the organization need to capitulate in many ways and Shohei driving up the 5 FWY is a step to recovery. It just was not going to work here, sadly. That is on Arte and the shit stain is on his red sweater. This is likely the best message to get him to GTFO.
The scale is different, but deferrals aren’t new. Scherzer, Betts, deGrom, Strasberg, Freeman, Lindor, Yelich, Sale, Alex Cobb are all getting long payouts. Where were the rage boners then?
Also, it kinda puts holes in the Blessed Saint Ohtani theories that he felt compelled to take max value for the good of the MLBPA. Ohtani doesn’t need the baseball money, given he is juggernaut on his own cloud in endosements.
It’s not the deferrals, it’s the scale.
C’mon, we (most of us here) know about deferrals in contracts. Baseball isn’t the only sport people here follow. We’re not all that dumb.
The Angels should have offered $1 billion, paying that $2mil a year, then the remaining $990,000,000 over 99 years.
My missive was more for those who are calling for MLB to “investigate” the Dodgers for no other reason but they’re the Dodgers. If Crapino thought this up, we’d all be knob-slobbing each other how we played the game and won.
What’s the difference? A billion dollars isn’t what it used to be.
Once the Dodgers run the table on all the key free agents like Yamamoto, we’ll get a better assessment at how the other 29 teams are feeling.
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10100798-mlb-rumors-dodgers-eyeing-yoshinobu-yamamoto-amid-shohei-ohtanis-deferred-contract
Sign stealing wasn’t new when the Astros took things to an egregious level and stole a WS. This is taking deferrals to an egregious level that hurts the sport. I would not be celebrating this contract if it was the Angels.
Dude if anyone doesn’t think the Skanks, Chowds and Doyers weren’t up to the same shenanigans that the Trashstros were that year then they’re delusional. Between the Apple Watch in the dugout, the constant visits to the replay room or planting an employee out in the Latrine pavilion for little reconnaissance they were all guilty. Thats why all their whining was completely hollow.
If you’re still an Angel fan today, pat yourself on the back. You’re one of the die hards!!!
Go Angels!
World Series 2072 or bust!
I’m actually having a very hard time with this. Right now, baseball has been drained of its joy for me. Maybe I’ll feel differently once spring rolls around, but this is just one thing too many.
Hang in there, it’s just sports. Engage in regular exercise…. and watch MMA.
I’ve already moved on. I’m honestly interested to see what Perry & Arte do from here…
After hearing the details of the deal and the deferred money was his idea – it is clear to me he never intended to stay in Anaheim. Had he just been honest about that the Angels could have avoided gutting their farm system and would have likely traded him at the deadline in ‘23 if not ‘22.
With that now actually known, I will not root for Ohtani. I think he’s a selfish asshole. Sayonara you jerk.
I’ll add that. I hope the Dodgers go bankrupt in about 10 years and Ohtani becomes an unsecured creditor of the BK.
Not likely. Mark Walter didn’t get filthy rich being dumb. They’ll likely buy an annuity sometime in the future that pays out exactly 68M a year for 10 years.
If you believe Fletcher:
https://twitter.com/JeffFletcherOCR/status/1734356878736638003
Also Fletcher thinks we’ll eventually get the full story from the Angels FO, but not anytime soon…
https://twitter.com/JeffFletcherOCR/status/1734362242798555256
If I was the Angels, I’d be singing like canary once the free agency signings are completed
Oh come on. Far from a jerk. Finishing 4th year after year would not flip my skirt.
Lol like I posted earlier about his statement “Sincere gratitude” to Angels and fans, IS turning out fake. Deferred money; why not give your home team that chance even if a shorter contract? Nope, he had it planned to leave and allowed team to make lousy trades to gut farm system. Is there anyone silly enough to believe if we made playoffs last year he would have resigned?? Dodgers already stacked team that wins division every year and Sho is worried about them having money to get even more stars?? Ridiculous, I guess he doesn’t want to step up and be ‘The Man’ of a an organization and would rather sit on an allstar team for easy championships. Can’t imagine how Angels owners and players felt about learning of this deferred payment scheme.
wont someone think of the scorned billionaire owner!
😂
I think you’re angry
https://twitter.com/Jared_Tims/status/1734347298388463867
I just puked a little
@JimBowdenGM
When it’s Ohtani and the Dodgers, it’s “how bad he wants to win.” When it was LeBron and Durant, playing the same FA game and rules, it was “they were sellouts, couldn’t win by themselves, and so they had to go somewhere else.”
From the details that has been revealed over the last two days, not only it was obvious that the Angels never had a chance, but that they weren’t even part of the final teams at all. Perry and Arte just respected the fact that Shohei and his team wanted no leaks. Because if this was a different FA, like it’s been in prior years, we would have already known the Angels are out of the bidding.
Dodgers worked the system and came up with a deal that might not be proper under the rules. The commissioner should review same and decide. The whole thing is ridiculous. If this notion was proper, then the luxury tax is meaningless as it is being circumvented.
Agree. It feels like the League needs to reject/overturn at least the structuring of this contract. On the other hand, they have a vested interest in the Dodgers being good and both the Dodgers/Ohtani making it to the World Series, so there’s a good chance they do nothing ….
ESPN reported the size of deferrals were Ohtani’s idea…..
shh. that doesn’t fit evil Dodgers and MLB conspiracy theories.
Given the ongoing dollar devaluation (inflation), the differed 680 million will probably worth something in like 550 million is buying power when he ultimately collects. Think he’ll he able to pull thru? Haha
Well, we can’t exactly complain, after the “10 year personal services” loophole that we exploited, and that MLB quickly outlawed.
I have to give my tip of my hat to the Dodgers if they found a loophole that results in the biggest trick of the system in sports history, which is what it sure sounds like.
MLB will be closing this loophole soon as well.
Yeah but an actual $10 million at the back end of a $250 Million deal is chump change versus 97% of the entire contract
Exactly
The LA Luxury Tax Dodgers!
I suppose it is possible that all the “we’re going to be aggressive and compete” speech was just pre-Ohtani. Now that Ohtani is gone, perhaps they won’t sign anybody of note, and just rebuild?
I’m not holding my breath, but I’m just looking at the possibilities. Perry hasn’t committed to anything yet.
Is the deferred money also at zero percent interest?
Yes
Unbelievable.
Nor has any other Team or player of significance since Saturday’s shocker.
That doesn’t affect my supposition at all.
What a f-ing joke
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/12/shohei-ohtanis-contract-will-defer-68mm-per-year.html
😲 Holy crap. There is no way the other league owners are not going to complain to Manfraud.
Nez Balelo should complain to himself.
I’m sure Nez got his agent % without deferrals. He’s doing just fine.
$2m a year and $680m deferred?
And this was Ohtani’s idea?
What a joke.
Ridiculous.
If he wanted to play for the Dodgers that much, he should have just asked to be traded to them last year instead. At least we would have gotten prospects back.
I would not be surprised if Nez told the Dodgers to wait and keep the prospects
I wouldn’t be surprised at all. Gave the Angels false hope there was a chance he would re-sign but for the past year they’ve known he was gonna be a Dodger in 2024.
Hey now – Arte would have done that deal!! Unbelievable
Hell, he would have been better off with Canadian dollars
Ohtani gonna be making 80 million a year off sponsorships so i think he might be ok financially. maybe.
He loves them so much he essentially wants to play for them for free for his playing career.
Exactly. He deferred so much I’m surprised he didnt ask for $850 Million.
BTW all of this might also just be a way for his agent to say Ohtani got $700 for ten years when really the actual value is more like $470 million for ten years.
Uh…no.
Ohtani will be paid $700m through age 50
Uh, no. No interest. The present value for each year of the contact translates to a lesser figure — apparently $47 million. It’s basic math. If you agree to it someone in 20 years for what they are doing today, whatever you are laying them gets discounted down to present value in determining real worth.
I wasn’t happy about losing Shohei to begin with. Yes, I was in the camp of I hoped he would re-sign with the Angels to win one with Trout. With that said, after reading this was his idea, FUCK him! He was willing to take less per year from the dodgers so they could have more money to sign more talent but had no trouble taking $30MM from the Angels this last season without a care in the world about helping the team to sign better talent! Again, FUCK him!
He played the Angels – and seriously has hurt them for the future. I agree. F him
if only the angels could have avoided this by retaining their prospects and acquiring prospects.
Arte needed the extra 2 months of jersey sales tho
Dismal.
BR updated farm system rankings:
27. Los Angeles Angels
Top 10 Prospects
1. 1B/OF Nolan Schanuel (Tier 1)
2. RHP Caden Dana (Tier 1)
3. OF Nelson Rada (Tier 2)
4. 2B/SS Kyren Paris (Tier 3)
5. RHP Barrett Kent (Tier 3)
6. OF Alberto Rios (Tier 3)
7. 1B/OF Trey Cabbage (Tier 3)
8. SS Denzer Guzman (Tier 3)
9. RHP Jorge Marcheco (Tier 3)
10. OF Kevyn Castillo (Tier 3)
—First baseman Nolan Schanuel went from hitting .447/.615/.868 with 18 doubles, 19 home runs and 64 RBI in 59 games during his junior season at Florida Atlantic to playing in the majors less than a month after going No. 11 overall in the 2023 draft. The 21-year-old had a .402 on-base percentage and more walks (20) than strikeouts (19) in 132 plate appearances after debuting.
—At 26 years old, Trey Cabbage is on the older end of the prospect scale, but after hitting .306/.379/.596 with 30 home runs and 32 steals in 107 games at Triple-A he could make a case for a spot on the Opening Day roster this spring.
Let’s hope not.
Schanuel is the starting first basemen for the big club. Not sure how he is still labeled a prospect.
Cabbage’s AAA numbers are good. But so were Bill Ashley’s.
Number of MLB at bats?
Marketing Arte lost his golden goose which had fallen unexpectedly into his lap and made him a fortune. Lines for merchandise were hours long at the games. There were even lines on non-game days.
What is left is crickets. There is nothing left to market. Trout you say? Unless Father Time gives him back a few years that is unlikely.
And worse for Arte is his competition up the 5 (which was already kicking his ass) is now set up to dominate both on the field and in every possible marketing campaign.
Only the diehards like us will be left giving a shit.
Arte was having so much fun marketing without effort and printing money that he reportedly turned down $3B for his franchise. Now he has almost nothing left to market. The Circus has traveled up the road.
Maybe, just maybe, this environment will cause him to stop having fun and sell the team.
Trouty and Rendone are gonna combine for 300 GP and 15 WAR next season, aren’t they?
Got some of that hopium for me?!
I’m just messing around lol. MVRengifo will take over full time at 3rd before May 😛
Yep
Trout 16 WAR
Rendon -1 WAR
That Trout prediction is likely to be as correct as your Ohtani signing predictions.
More like Trout 16 WAR, Rendon -15 WAR.
That’s the good news
The bad news is right now it’s a 70 win team barring a Christmas miracle
“Miracle on East Gene Autry Way.”
Oddly, Lone Star Ball has the answers on compensation and the CBT.
On deferred money and the MLB luxury tax – Lone Star Ball
Here’s the money shot:
“Let us say, for discussion purposes, Ohtani’s $70M salary has $20M paid per year immediately, and the other $50M deferred for 20 years at 0% interest. Applying that 4.43% discount rate, for CBT purposes, that $50 million to be paid in 2044 is equivalent to just over $20M to be paid in 2024. And thus, for CBT purposes, Ohtani’s 2024 salary would be treated as a little over $40M, rather than $70M”.
Looks like he defers it to the point that the future money is considered to be worth less to the cap because of inflation, which is measured by the interest on the money he defers.
Which would be correct, given tomorrow’s dollars are going to be of less value. Again, Mark Walter isn’t a fool. His day job is making money.
Yep, money today has more value than money in the future……especially when the future money is not appreciating.