Report of Shohei Ohtani's Dodgers Contract Being Deferred Led to Bobby Bonilla Jokes

MLB fans couldn't help but think of the former Met after news of Shohei Ohtani's mammoth Dodgers contract broke.

Shohei Ohtani electrified the sports world on Saturday afternoon when he announced he intended to sign with the Dodgers, one day after reports—which turned out to be erroneous—hinted that he was headed to the Blue Jays. 

Fans were even more amazed when the monstrous figures of Ohtani's contract emerged: 10 years and $700 million. 

But one report from The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal indicated there's a twist in Ohtani's contract, as the two-way star reportedly agreed to "unprecedented" deferrals, which the MLB insider indicates is the "majority of his salary." No other details have emerged on the deferrals, but MLB fans couldn't help but immediately think of former Mets player Bobby Bonilla. 

• Shohei Ohtani’s Deal Is a Big Loss for These Five Teams

Ohtani deal with Dodgers, per source, includes “unprecedented” deferrals - the majority of his salary. The deferrals were Ohtani’s idea to ease the Dodgers’ luxury-tax and cash flow burdens to give the team the flexibility needs to be as competitive as possible, the source said.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 9, 2023

The Bonilla jokes were bountiful!

Still ends before Bonilla’s

— Brandon Warne (@formerly_bw) December 9, 2023

Bobby Bonilla day is now Shohei Ohtani day those are the rules

— Philly Sports Sufferer (@mccrystal_alex) December 9, 2023

If Ohtani immediately started on the Bobby Bonilla plan he would be getting paid until 2723

— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) December 9, 2023

The year is 2063 and ESPN tweets “Happy Shohei Ohtani day! He is getting paid $3,000,000 every year until 2090.”

— pastor matt 👾 (@MonsieurMatt25) December 9, 2023

Bonilla, who signed the richest contract in sports at the time—a five-year, $29 million deal with the Mets in 1991—had the remaining $5.9 million bought out by the club. But New York opted not to pay the full buyout at the time, instead handing out payments approaching $1.2 million every July 1, a process that began in 2011 and will continue until 2035. 

July 1 is now known as Bobby Bonilla Day. While it's not yet clear what Ohtani's deferred payments will look like- they almost certainly won't look like Bonilla's, given his unique situation- it hasn't stopped fans from imagining. 

With all of that deferred money, the kids will definitely get their Shohei Ohtani Day when my generation’s Bobby Bonilla Day is gone.

— Scott Mitchell (@ScottyMitchTSN) December 9, 2023

I look forward to us all celebrating Shohei Ohtani deferred payment day for the next five decades like we do with Bobby Bonilla.

— Joseph Werner (@JoltinJoey) December 9, 2023

Jokes aside, it will be interesting to hear more details about Ohtani's contract.