The Los Angeles Dodgers have found the formula for attracting MLB top stars. You only need to look at how Shohei Ohtani’s contract is structured, for example-he signed for 10 years and $700 million in December 2023.
The Japanese superstar inked a record-breaking MLB contract at the time, though what drew massive attention was his decision to defer $680 million of his salary-a practice that is allowed under the collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
The Dodgers are the team that uses this salary deferral strategy the most, and you only have to look at the deal they offered Kyle Tucker: four years and $240 million. The player chose Los Angeles over the Toronto Blue Jays, even though their offer was longer-term, and he also turned down the New York Mets, who proposed a similarly structured contract with fewer years.
Kyle Tucker’s contract
The player’s deal includes opt-out clauses after the 2027 and 2028 seasons, meaning he could remain with the organization for as little as two years. He also receives a $64 million signing bonus, while deferring $30 million in salary.
According to Bob Nightengale (USA Today), Tucker will receive just $1 million in actual salary for the 2026 MLB season-half of what Ohtani earns annually.
Per information from Associated Press reporters Beth Harris and Ronald Blum, Tucker is expected to receive $54 million of his signing bonus before February 15. He will then collect the remaining $10 million on February 1, 2027.
Among MLB fans and analysts, opinions remain divided on these financial strategies, as some team owners are increasingly frustrated by the Dodgers’ aggressive spending in free agency.
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