Stunning reason why Shohei Ohtani cut Dodgers career short and said ‘no’ to becoming highest-paid superstar in sports
Shohei Ohtani is already set for life and on a Hall of Fame path. But the Japanese Babe Ruth could have raked in even more cash when he signed a record-breaking $700 million contract. Shohei Ohtani intentionally limited his deal with the DodgersGetty Ohtani became the highest-paid player in pro sports when he stunned Major League Baseball by changing teams in Los Angeles, leaving the Angels behind and agreeing to a 10-year deal with the Dodgers. Ohtani deferring the majority of his huge payday has been heavily reported in the past, and the historic deal — which has now been topped by Juan Soto‘s $765m contract with the New York Mets — paid off last year with a Dodgers World Series championship. But a hidden reason why Ohtani ‘limited’ himself to a $700 million deal has emerged. His humility. Ohtani’s respect for the game prevented him from agreeing to a 15-year deal, cutting five years off his current contract with the Dodgers. “We could have went to 13, 14, 15 years,” agent Nez Balelo said. “But Shohei wanted to always kind of keep the integrity of where he’s at as a player. He just didn’t want to have the end of his storybook career tail off and then on year 13, 14 and 15, it’s just like who is this guy? You can’t even run down first and he’s not a guy anymore.” Extended contracts that burn money have long been a problem in baseball. Ohtani took the Tom Brady-route by taking less money to help the Dodgers on the field. The three-time MVP and four-time All-Star also ensured that he would leave baseball with respect. He’s already made his $700 million contract pay off with a World Series trophy GettyJuan Soto topped Ohtani with a 15-year, $765m deal[/caption] “We wouldn’t do anything different,” Balelo said. “He won a championship. He went to the right team. No regrets.” Ohtani deferred $680 million of his Dodgers contract, which helped Los Angeles adjust to baseball’s luxury tax. He will be 38 when his contract ends after the 2033 season, and Ohtani could always sign another deal — with the Dodgers or another MLB team. Ohtani, 30, is producing another MVP-caliber season in 2025. He’s hitting .296 with 11 home runs and a 1.032 OPS. The Dodgers are also tied with the Detroit Tigers for the best record (25-13) in baseball. But with San Diego just a game behind Los Angeles for first place in the National League West, Ohtani will have to drive in more runs (16 RBI) and increase his WAR (2) for the Dodgers to lock down their division. Ohtani is set to eventually receive $700 million for the Dodgers. But his career earnings of $46 million pale when compared to that huge number, and could be another reason why the three-time MVP remains humble on and off the field. Ohtani holds a .282 career average with 236 home runs, 583 RBI, 603 runs, 155 stolen bases and a .949 OPS. On the mound, the two-way star is 38-19 with a 3.01 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. Born on July 5, 1994 in Mizusawa, Oshu in Japan, Ohtani’s father, Toru, played baseball for a semipro team sponsored by a local Mitsubishi plant. Ohtani’s mother, Kayoko, was also an athlete and spent time as a competitive badminton player. The future Dodger played in the National High School Baseball Championship in 2011, and hit 101 mph on the radar gun at 20 years old. Ohtani’s wife is Mamiko Tanaka, who played as a 5ft 11in forward for the Fujitsu Red Wave in the Women’s Japan Basketball League from 2019-23. Worldwide baseball fans are also obsessed with Ohtani’s Nederlandse Kooikerhondje – a dog named Dekopin, and better known as Decoy.
Shohei Ohtani is already set for life and on a Hall of Fame path.
But the Japanese Babe Ruth could have raked in even more cash when he signed a record-breaking $700 million contract.
Ohtani became the highest-paid player in pro sports when he stunned Major League Baseball by changing teams in Los Angeles, leaving the Angels behind and agreeing to a 10-year deal with the Dodgers.
Ohtani deferring the majority of his huge payday has been heavily reported in the past, and the historic deal — which has now been topped by Juan Soto‘s $765m contract with the New York Mets — paid off last year with a Dodgers World Series championship.
But a hidden reason why Ohtani ‘limited’ himself to a $700 million deal has emerged.
His humility.
Ohtani’s respect for the game prevented him from agreeing to a 15-year deal, cutting five years off his current contract with the Dodgers.
“We could have went to 13, 14, 15 years,” agent Nez Balelo said.
“But Shohei wanted to always kind of keep the integrity of where he’s at as a player. He just didn’t want to have the end of his storybook career tail off and then on year 13, 14 and 15, it’s just like who is this guy? You can’t even run down first and he’s not a guy anymore.”
Extended contracts that burn money have long been a problem in baseball.
Ohtani took the Tom Brady-route by taking less money to help the Dodgers on the field.
The three-time MVP and four-time All-Star also ensured that he would leave baseball with respect.
“We wouldn’t do anything different,” Balelo said.
“He won a championship. He went to the right team. No regrets.”
Ohtani deferred $680 million of his Dodgers contract, which helped Los Angeles adjust to baseball’s luxury tax.
He will be 38 when his contract ends after the 2033 season, and Ohtani could always sign another deal — with the Dodgers or another MLB team.
Ohtani, 30, is producing another MVP-caliber season in 2025.
He’s hitting .296 with 11 home runs and a 1.032 OPS.
The Dodgers are also tied with the Detroit Tigers for the best record (25-13) in baseball.
But with San Diego just a game behind Los Angeles for first place in the National League West, Ohtani will have to drive in more runs (16 RBI) and increase his WAR (2) for the Dodgers to lock down their division.
Ohtani is set to eventually receive $700 million for the Dodgers.
But his career earnings of $46 million pale when compared to that huge number, and could be another reason why the three-time MVP remains humble on and off the field.
Ohtani holds a .282 career average with 236 home runs, 583 RBI, 603 runs, 155 stolen bases and a .949 OPS.
On the mound, the two-way star is 38-19 with a 3.01 ERA and 1.08 WHIP.
Born on July 5, 1994 in Mizusawa, Oshu in Japan, Ohtani’s father, Toru, played baseball for a semipro team sponsored by a local Mitsubishi plant.
Ohtani’s mother, Kayoko, was also an athlete and spent time as a competitive badminton player.
The future Dodger played in the National High School Baseball Championship in 2011, and hit 101 mph on the radar gun at 20 years old.
Ohtani’s wife is Mamiko Tanaka, who played as a 5ft 11in forward for the Fujitsu Red Wave in the Women’s Japan Basketball League from 2019-23.
Worldwide baseball fans are also obsessed with Ohtani’s Nederlandse Kooikerhondje – a dog named Dekopin, and better known as Decoy.
