Shohei Ohtani signs with the Dodgers for 10 years, $700 million

[HokieRaven5]

For the years he's playing, where he lives doesn't really matter all that much, it's prorated based on where he plays. When the Dodgers play in Miami, he won't pay any state tax, when they play in Chicago he'll have to pay the IL state income tax on that portion. Taxes and exchange rate hurt the Jays I'm sure. Even as onerous as CA taxes are, they pale in comparison to Canadian taxes. I have no idea how the after retirement payments would be handled.

Yeah it’s the after he plays payments where he could possible settle in a place that doesn’t have a state income tax and possibly avoid that tax bill.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Ken Griffey jr gets paid $3.59 million a year by the reds, and he hasn’t played for them since 2008. I believe 2024 is the last year.

And yet if I volunteered to not play for the Reds for the bargain basement price of just $10,000 a year they'd turn me down.

 

[kymom99]

And yet if I volunteered to not play for the Reds for the bargain basement price of just $10,000 a year they'd turn me down.

Doesn’t seem right, does it?

 

[bcla]

Yeah it’s the after he plays payments where he could possible settle in a place that doesn’t have a state income tax and possibly avoid that tax bill.

It could get interesting since I would think he might retire in Japan, but he might still be on the hook for US taxes since it’s paid by a US entity for services rendered in the US.

I hope he had a tax attorney look over all this. And one well versed on what happens when one moves to another country.

 

[cabanafrau]

If someone is willing to pay it then they are worth it. Simple as that.

He is, without a doubt, a unique baseball player and I had no doubt he would sign the biggest MLB contract though the length does surprise me a bit.

Something that is often forgotten when we discuss these big professional contracts is that it isn't only what is happening on the field that impacts the worth. Setting aside the uniqueness of someone who can hit and pitch at an all-star level the fact he is Japanese plays into his worth a lot.
Unlike here where baseball, while still very popular, is not known for the high marketability of its players in Japan they are still some of the biggest stars.

Seems like eventually there will be a tipping point where the business model is no longer sustainable. IMO live sports and concerts are approaching the brink.

It's notable how many things assumed to be permanent fixtures of our cultural landscape are shrinking, shifting or flat out disappearing. The bloated awards shows that were taken for granted are starting to fall like dominoes and not only can't command the audience they once did, but in several cases are struggling to find broadcast outlets. Broadcast outlets themselves are struggling to find solid footing. I remember being very young and the Miss America pageant was a big deal on TV. I think it is still held, but I'm not sure it's televised anymore. It's not necessarily a bad thing, and I don't think awards shows or pageants are anywhere near as culturally relevant or beneficial as sports or live music, but I do believe there is no such thing as too big to fail. Whether purely economically driven or triggered by overall world events, I suspect the next significant economic contraction might bring a very significant reset of many, many, things assumed to be permanent institutions.

 

[_19disnA]

I can't see any athlete work that kind of money. Obviously the money has to come from somewhere which drives up the prices of tickets or advertisers charging more for their products. Then they wonder why fewer people are interested in attending live sporting events?........LOL.