"Nobody would take Juan Soto" - MLB insider claims Shohei Ohtani's $700,000,000 Dodgers deal looks like a massive steal for Guggenheim in hindsight
Juan Soto might not get signed to a humungous 15-year, $765 million contract if Shohei Ohtani was a free agent this offseason, MLB insider Bob Nightengale claims.
Upon learning Soto's deal, the USA Today analyst spoke highly of Dodgers ownership (Guggenheim Baseball Management), saying signing Ohtani to a 10-year, $700 million deal last offseason, especially with deferrals in place, now seems a massive steal for the club.
"Yeah, I mean, it was still a good deal last year, especially with the deferred money," Nightengale said on Dodgers Nation (6:42 onwards). "But now, when you consider how much revenue he brought to the Dodgers and his impact as a player, both on the field and in the clubhouse, the contract looks like an absolute steal.
"Both sides are happy—he’s earning more off the field than any baseball player in history, had a historic season, and now he’s going to start pitching. But let’s be honest—you’d rather have Shohei Ohtani at that contract. Between Ohtani and Soto, you’d take Ohtani in a heartbeat. Nobody would take Soto."
Bob Nightengale gives his verdict on whether Shohei Ohtani's contract will go down best in history
Shohei Ohtani's presence in LA is resulting in a massive inflow of money for the Dodgers. Though the Dodgers superstar is only earning $2 million in salary since the remainder money is deferred until next decade, he is earning truckloads of money in terms of endorsements and sponsorships.
Moreover, the Dodgers are also earning a lot more since bringing Ohtani over.
“The advertising on the Dodgers’ outfield wall is generating $6.5 million this year, thanks to Shohei Ohtani, compared to $500,000 in 2023,” a report from USA Today states.
During the same interaction, Bob Nightengale was asked if Ohtani's contract would go down best in history.
"It's funny—a lot of scouts and executives debate what the best contract in history is. There are really three that come to mind," Nightengale said. "One is when Barry Bonds signed with the Giants for about $45–46 million. Another is Greg Maddux's four-year deal with the Atlanta Braves, during which they won the World Series and made the playoffs every single year.
"But the one that's probably the best of all time is Randy Johnson's deal with the Diamondbacks—a four-year contract where he won four Cy Young Awards and a World Series. Still, if the Dodgers end up winning three or four World Series with Ohtani, you’d have to consider his deal as part of that conversation."
Dodgers are benefitting from their association with Ohtani, as he continues to solidify his position as one of the best players in MLB history.