BREAKING: Two-time MVP Shohei Ohtani signs with Los Angeles Dodgers

The two-way player, who will only hit in 2024, has a new home and Atlanta's no longer the World Series favorite after the news

Two-time American League MVP Shohei Ohtani, the most coveted free agent of not just this offseason but possibly in Major League Baseball history, has a new home. 

He's now a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shohei Ohtani | 大谷翔平 (@shoheiohtani)

The deal is reportedly for $700M dollars over 10 years, an average annual value of $70M, with significant amounts of deferred money, per ESPN's Jeff Passan. 

Ohtani, 29, is considered to be the most unique player in Major League Baseball history. Capable of being both an elite offensive hitter and a top-of-the rotation starter, he's the type of dual sensation the likes of which MLB's never seen. 

(The most frequent two-way comparison, Babe Ruth, began his career predominately pitching before converting to mostly hitting for the 1918 season. He made only 38 starts after the 1917 season, with 705 of his 714 career homers coming in 1918 or later.)

Over the last three seasons, Ohtani's hit 124 home runs, including leading the American League with 44 in 2023. He has a .277/.379/.585 slashline during that stretch, including a MLB-leading 1.066 OPS in 2023. 

In that same three-season stretch, he's 34-16 with a 284 ERA in 74 starts, striking out 542 batters in his 428.1 innings (11.4 K/9) while walking 143 (3.0 BB/9). 

After suffering a tear of his right UCL (his throwing arm) in late August, Ohtani went an unspecified repair procedure (believed to be his 2nd career Tommy John surgery) in September and will only hit in 2024. It's assumed he would return to the mound in 2025, but there's a much smaller track record of players successfully returning from a second Tommy John surgery (if that's, in fact what the repair procedure was).

Was Atlanta truly ever in the running for Ohtani? 

Looking at the contract figures, it's hard to believe Atlanta was seriously in the running for the Japanese two-way sensation. He received a total of $700M over 10 years ($70M AAV), both an yearly and an annual amount that more than doubles any other contract on the roster. Even if half the money were deferred until after retirement, it would only lower his annual CBT figure to around $50M. 

President of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos has only once signed a player for more than the current $22M AAV max since he's been in Atlanta, a one year contract for third baseman Josh Donaldson that came in at $23M. That doesn't mean Atlanta's unwilling to extend higher AAVs to the right player - reportedly, Atlanta offered $27M AAV for starter Aaron Nola before he re-signed with Philadelphia - but that's still significantly less than Ohtani's $70M AAV. 

2023 MLB Free Agent Rankings after the Winter Meetings

What does this mean for Atlanta?

The immediate impact is to the World Series odds. Atlanta, who opened the morning in sole possession of best odds in MLB to win the World Series at +600, are now behind Los Angeles at +650 - the Dodgers went from +700 this morning to +500 on the news on FanDuel. 

Important Braves Today Offseason Stories
2023 MLB Free Agent Rankings
Current Atlanta Braves prospect rankings
Current Atlanta Braves 40-man roster
Key offseason dates for the Atlanta Braves
Projecting the 2024 Atlanta Braves' arbitration salaries

Check out Braves Today on Socials!
Follow Braves Today on Twitter!
Like Braves Today on Facebook!
Check out the homepage for more Atlanta Braves News!
Subscribe to Braves Today on YouTube!
Get Exclusive Braves Merchandise from FOCO