Ohtani’s Contract Brings Light To Other MLB Deferred Salary Contracts
Two-way MLB Superstar Shohei Ohtani recently signed a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Japanese phenom moves less than an hour away from his old home with the Angels. At 10 years/$700 million, this is the biggest contract in not just MLB history. It is also the biggest in US Professional Sports history. There is something special about this contract, besides the amount of money. It’s how the money is being paid out to Ohtani.
From this upcoming season until 2033 (when the contract ends), the 2x MVP will be paid only $2 million per year. Which, of course, comes out to $20 million. The last $680 million will be deferred. Meaning, Ohtani will be getting those checks paid to him from 2034 to 2043. While it is the biggest deferred amount in MLB history, it’s not the only one ever done.
Let’s shed a light on some other guys who were smart enough to defer their money. Below, are 3 of the most significant deferred salary contracts, in MLB history (besides Bobby Bonilla).
Chris Davis, 1B/OF (2008-20). Team Paying: Baltimore Orioles. Amount: $3.5 million from 2023-2032, $1.4 million from 2033-2037
Chris “Crush” Davis, is one of 48 players to ever hit 50+ home runs in a season throughout MLB history. It happened during the 2013 season, with a total of 53 HRs. That season brought a few other good things for Davis. He got his one and only All-Star appearance, his only Silver Slugger award, and a top-3 MVP finish. In January of 2016, the former 5th-round pick signed a 7-year extension with Baltimore, worth $161 million. But $42 million of it was set to be paid over a 15 year span.
Once the Texas native “secured the bag”, his production went down like a bag of rocks. Davis never had a batting average above .230 again. And only had over 100 hits in a season once more. As of right now, Davis will be getting paid over $4 million dollars this coming season. Putting him at the 2nd highest paid on the Orioles current payroll.
Ken Griffey Jr., OF (1989-2010). Team Paying: Cincinatti Reds. Amount: $3.5 million in 2024
“The Kid” had one of the sweetest, smoothest swings we have ever seen in the batter’s box. He also hasn’t played in almost 15 years, yet is still getting paid. Griffey Jr., was on the Reds from 2000-2008(30-38 years old).His production wasn’t what it used to be, and those seasons were injury plagued here and there. Yet he still garnered 3 All-Star selections in that time. But nothing more than that. T
The Hall of Famer signed the original deal with Cincy in 2000, for 9 yrs/$112 million. It included $57.5 million deferred, with interest, from 2009-2024. That was a smart move for Griffey, seeing as though his prime was gone the instant he put on a Reds jersey. Last season, he was #2 on the Reds payroll, only behind Joey Votto. This upcoming season, he will rank 5th as he gets his last payment from his hometown team.
Manny Ramirez, OF (1993-2011). Team Paying: Boston Red Sox. Amount: About $2 million from 2010-2026.
Ramirez is known for his consistently good bat (hit over .300 in 12 out of 19 seasons), with really good power behind it (555 career HRs). He’s also known for his crazy antics. Such as going inside the Green Monster during a game. Which helped the phrase “Manny being Manny” become popular. From 2001-2008, the 12x All-Star helped the Red Sox to two World Series titles, getting himself a World Series MVP. During the 2008 season, Ramirez was traded to the Dodgers.
At the time, the Sox hadn’t yet paid him the entirety of the contract. Since he wasn’t a part of the team anymore, they compromised and chose to defer payments over time. Since 2010, John Henry and company have been sending checks for about $2 million to Manny’s mailbox. Luckily for Boston, they only have to dole out $6 million more in the next couple seasons.
These deferred payments don’t come close to touching what Ohtani’s will be like. But they are still significant enough to make a dent in a team’s payroll.