Ex-Dodger shares appropriate comment about Shohei Ohtani deferrals

The Los Angeles Dodgers logo on the outside of Dodger Stadium on July 15, 2018. Photo Credit: Larry Brown/Larry Brown Sports

Former Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star Justin Turner shared an interesting comment on Monday after word of Shohei Ohtani’s deferrals became public.

On Monday, a report about Ohtani’s contract was published. The report said that Ohtani is only taking $2 million of his $70 million per year while he plays with the Dodgers for the next 10 seasons. He has deferred the remaining $680 million to be paid out over the subsequent 10 years after his current 10-year, $700 million deal ends.

Ohtani’s actions will allow the Dodgers more payroll flexibility to build their current team, but the team will have to pick up the rest of Ohtani’s bill from 2034-2043.

Turner, who played with the Dodgers from 2014-2022 and made two All-Star teams during that span, shared an appropriate comment about the situation.

“The next ownership group will figure it out,” Turner wrote on X.

The next ownership group will figure it out 😳

— Justin Turner (@redturn2) December 11, 2023

That seems appropriate.

The current Dodgers ownership group has filled the roster with superstars, but it’s come at a big price to both the present and future roster. They have Mookie Betts signed through 2032 and will pay him $120 million in deferred money from 2033-2044. Freddie Freeman is signed through 2027 and will be paid $57 million in deferrals from 2028-2040. And now they will be paying Ohtani $680 million in deferred money from 2034-2043.

That’s a ton of future money that’s been spent, but it will be someone else’s problem if Guggenheim Baseball Management sells the team. They purchased the franchise for $2.15 billion in 2012. The franchise has enjoyed tremendous success since then, and the value of the team has skyrocketed accordingly.