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The two-way superstar signed a 10-year, $700
million contract with the Dodgers on Monday, and multiple media
reports indicated that he will receive just $2 million annually
through the life of the deal, with the remaining money deferred.
Now comes reports that Ohtani can rip up the remainder of the
contract at the end of any season during which either Dodgers
owner Mark Walter or president of baseball operations Andrew
Friedman exits the franchise.
A baseball executive told USA Today that the clause involving
other team personnel is believed to be the first of its kind in
major league history. However, manager Joe Maddon had a similar
clause in his contract that allowed him to leave the Tampa Bay
Rays when Friedman departed the team in 2014 to join the
Dodgers' front office.
Ohtani, 29, was selected the American League Most Valuable
Player for the second time this year -- the first player ever to
win two MVPs with unanimous votes.
Splitting time with the Los Angeles Angels between pitching and
serving as the designated hitter, he led the league with 44
homers, a .412 on-base percentage and a .654 slugging
percentage. On the mound, he went 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA in 23
starts before an elbow injury kept him from pitching after Aug.
23.
In six major league seasons, all with the Angels, Ohtani hit
.274/.366/.556 with 171 homers and 437 RBIs. He has a 38-19
pitching record with a 3.01 ERA in 86 starts.
--Field Level Media
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