Ohtani reached a historic 10-year agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday, totaling $700 million, setting a new record for the most lucrative contract in professional sports history. This surpasses Mike Trout’s $426.5 million extension, which previously held the title of the richest baseball deal for four years.
As reported by Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet, the Blue Jays’ proposal to Ohtani was on par with the Dodgers’ final offer:
“Per sources familiar with the negotiations, the financial offer presented by the Blue Jays was in the same ballpark as that of the Dodgers. A source suggested that the Blue Jays’ proposition was highly competitive and nearly equivalent. While the exact figure remains undisclosed, being in the vicinity of a $700 million deal strongly indicates that Toronto’s ultimate bid exceeded $600 million. When approached via text messages last weekend, neither Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins nor a representative from Ohtani’s agency CAA chose to provide any comments.”
The most substantial contract in the history of the Blue Jays is held by outfielder George Springer, who inked a six-year pact valued at $150 million in January 2021.
Toronto’s disappointment in missing out on Ohtani is palpable. Nevertheless, the organization’s eagerness to propose well over half a billion dollars to Ohtani should be viewed positively by fans, indicating a strong commitment to constructing a winning team for the long haul.
Moreover, Toronto can take solace in the fact that there are numerous impactful free agent batters still available, such as former NL MVP Cody Bellinger, standout third baseman Matt Chapman, seasoned power hitter J.D. Martinez, and former Blue Jays Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Teoscar Hernández.
