re: Shohei Ohtani signs with the Dodgers: 10 years $700 million

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On a salary cap level it looks like an absolute disaster for the Dodgers.

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It depends on how much is actually deferred. It will count as $70 million/year as far as the luxury tax goes, but they don’t care about that. If they did some sort of Bobby Bonilla deal where they’re paying him for 25 years after he retires (only instead of a $1 million check every year, his is for $25), and they’re only paying him $35-$40/year, they’re still gonna be able to be players in free agency every year. Hell, they might not be done this year. They can still afford that Asian pitcher for $300 million if they want.

Again, it all depends on how his contract is structured and how much is actually deferred.

And you are thinking micro, very little picture if you don’t think the Dodgers will easily recoup that $700 million investment. It has very little to do with wind and it will last MUCH longer than 10 years. They’ll be making hundreds of millions in Asia decades after he retires. Hell, decades after he dies. 100 years from now, kids all over Japan will be rocking Ohtani Dodgers jerseys and hats.