Shohei Ohtani agrees to record-shattering $700 million deal with Dodgers

The modern-day Babe Ruth will continue playing in Los Angeles.?

Shohei Ohtani, the two-time winner of the American League MVP, will sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency after spending the first six years of his career with the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani announced in an Instagram post.?

Ohtani's agent announced the deal with the Dodgers is for $700 million over 10 years.

At the plate, Ohtani led the majors in 2023 with a .654 slugging percentage and 1.066 OPS; his .412 on-base percentage was second; his 44 homers were fourth; and his .304 average was ranked ninth.?

Ohtani was also brilliant on the mound, going 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 132 innings pitched. Among pitchers who threw 130.0 innings, his ERA was the ninth-lowest in MLB and his K/9 was sixth. Among AL pitchers with that number of innings, he ranked fifth and third, respectively. His 10.0 WAR, by far, led the majors; Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts' 8.3 was second.?

Ohtani will not pitch in 2024 after undergoing surgery on his right elbow — the second of his career — on Sept. 19 after tearing his ulnar collateral ligament on Aug. 23.?

In an announcement from Ohtani’s agent, Dr. Neal ElAttrache provided information on the surgery without saying that Ohtani underwent a second Tommy John procedure.?

"The ultimate plan after deliberation with Shohei was to repair the issue at hand and to reinforce the healthy ligament in place while adding viable tissue for the longevity of the elbow," ElAttrache said. "I expect full recovery, and he’ll be ready to hit without any restrictions come Opening Day of 2024 and do both (hit and pitch) come 2025."

Ohtani’s free agency has been the talk of baseball for the last year after he signed a one-year, $30 million contract before the 2023 season to avoid arbitration.?

Source: Fox