<!–>
Shohei Ohtani could have pursued a 15-year contract through age 44, agent Nez Balelo said Thursday, explaining the two-way superstar didn’t want to risk a decline in his skills while under the big deal.
Balelo pulled back the curtain that shrouds Ohtani a bit when he spoke at Sportico’s Invest West conference featuring decision-makers in sports, entertainment and finance at the new Intuit Dome, home of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers.
Ohtani’s $700 million, 10-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers that he signed in December 2023 was the largest in professional sports. He won his third MVP award and first World Series title in his first season after moving from the Los Angeles Angels.
A year later, Juan Soto went even bigger. The left fielder landed a $765 million, 15-year contract with the New York Mets in which none of the money will be deferred.
ADVERTISEMENT
–>
“We wouldn’t do anything different,” Balelo said afterward. “He won a championship. He went to the right team. No regrets.”
Ohtani’s deal includes $680 million in deferred payments. Those deferrals reduce the net present value of the contract to about $461 million for baseball’s luxury-tax system, instead of an average of $70 million a year had there been no deferrals.
Ohtani will be 38 when the contract ends after the 2033 season.
“We could have went to 13, 14, 15 years,” Balelo said. “But Shohei wanted to always kind of keep the integrity of where he’s at as a player. He just didn’t want to have the end of his storybook career tail off and then on year 13, 14 and 15, it’s just like who is this guy? You can’t even run down first and he’s not a guy anymore.”
Balelo prefers operating behind the scenes and carefully controlling the narrative around Ohtani. But even he couldn’t tamp down a cottage industry of rumors about which team would land Ohtani and how much it would cost.
“It was quite a ride,” he said in a discussion moderated by Ben Verlander, MLB analyst for FOX Sports.
A social media frenzy ensued when it was reported Ohtani was on a plane to Toronto to sign with the Blue Jays.
“Well, that was reckless reporting. We actually tried to let the individual know, ‘No, we’re not on a plane,'” Balelo said. “I felt bad for the country of Canada. I felt horrible for the organization because clearly they knew we weren’t.”
Ohtani’s goals were to keep his new team competitive by allowing the club money to sign other players and to allow him to win championships and continue to be a two-way player.
“The Dodgers gave us their word that’s what they were going to do,” said Balelo, who works for CAA Sports’ baseball division.
Ohtani is MLB’s top endorser, with his earnings jumping from $65 million in 2024 to $100 million this year.
“Yeah, absolutely, those are real numbers,” Balelo said. “It continues to take on a life of its own.”
According to Balelo, Ohtani endorses just over 20 brands that are carefully vetted and chosen based on his use or belief in the product and the people behind it. His priority is his on-the-field performance and the training that goes into it.
“He takes that very, very serious and everything really becomes secondary other than his family,” Balelo said. “We just have to make sure that we don’t overexpose him or put him in a situation where it’s too heavy of a lift.”
Balelo first spotted the future superstar as a high school junior in Ohtani’s native Japan and followed him closely as Ohtani’s pro career began with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
“There were some things that that I did differently than I typically would when I recruit,” he said, declining to elaborate when asked afterward.
“It was definitely a battle, that’s for sure, but we came out on top and I was very fortunate.”
Reporting by The Associated Press.
Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
<!–>
recommended
Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
–>
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Will Power takes Will Buxton around the IMS Road Course ahead of Sonsio Grand Prix | INDYCAR On FOX
NTT INDYCAR SERIES Video Details Will Power takes Will Buxton around the IMS Road Course ahead of the 2025 Sonsio Grand Prix to discuss his experience at the track, and how to beat Álex Palou. 1 MIN AGO・NTT INDYCAR SERIES・5:36
Fluminense perde para San José na altitude de La Paz e deixa liderança do Grupo F na Sul-Americana
Em busca de retomar a liderança do grupo, o Fluminense tem pela frente dois jogos em casa, contra Unión Española, 14 de maio, e Once Caldas, 28 do mesmo mês. Antes disso, enfrenta o Atlético-MG, neste domingo, às 17h30, em Belo Horizonte, pelo Brasileiro.
Anthony Edwards returned to Game 2 after spraining his left ankle
<!--> Anthony Edwards exited Game 2 of the Minnesota Timberwolves' Western Conference semifinal series against the Golden State Warriors after sustaining a left ankle sprain midway through the second quarter. The Timberwolves were leading 37-19 with 6:36 remaining in the second quarter when Edwards attempted a leaping left-handed layup in transition. Trayce Jackson-Davis, who successfully contested Edwards' shot, landed on his ankle, the weight of the Warriors' big man causing it to turn, awkwardly. Edwards missed the remainder of the first half and the Timberwolves announced his return status as questionable, but he was able to start the second half. The 23-year-old Edwards, a three-time All-Star, has shown resilience when it comes to mid-game injuries this postseason. He sustained an ankle injury in Game 4 of the Timberwolves' first-round series with the Los Angeles Lakers when LeBron James undercut him while diving for […]
Charge surprise top-seeded Victoire in Game 1 of PWHL semis
Dec 7, 2024; Buffalo, New York, USA; A general view of the hockey puck used for a game between the Buffalo Sabres and the Utah Hockey Club at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images Shiann Darkangelo scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period to lift the Ottawa Charge over the host Montreal Victoire 3-2 in Game 1 of their best-of-five PWHL semifinal series on Thursday. Emily Clark gathered a loose puck in Ottawa's offensive zone and quickly passed it to Darkangelo, who slotted home the tiebreaking goal past Ann-Renee Desbiens 9:17 into the period. Brianne Jenner and Ashton Bell also scored for the Charge, who can take a commanding series lead on Sunday in Game 2 before the series shifts to Ottawa next week. Maureen Murphy and Marie-Philip Poulin had the goals for Montreal, which outshot […]
Logan Thompson, Capitals even series with Hurricanes
May 8, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson (48) makes a save on Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) as Capitals defenseman John Carlson (74) defends in the second period in game two of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Logan Thompson made 27 saves and Tom Wilson had a goal and an assist in the Washington Capitals' 3-1 win over the visiting Carolina Hurricanes in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series Thursday. Connor McMichael and John Carlson also scored for the Capitals. The series is tied 1-1 as the Hurricanes assume the home-ice advantage. Game 3 is Saturday in Raleigh, N.C. Carolina is outshooting Washington by a 61-35 margin in the series, including a 28-21 edge in Game 2. […]
NBA playoffs: Draymond Green only 2 technical fouls from suspension after picking up another in Game 2
Two days after losing Stephen Curry, the Golden State Warriors are nearing the point where they could be without Draymond Green as well.The veteran big man picked up his fifth technical foul in nine playoff games this postseason on Thursday, leaving him two techs away from an automatic one-game suspension. Green has received such a suspension before, famously in the 2016 NBA Finals.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe foul occurred in Game 2 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, when T-Wolves big man Naz Reid fouled him in the second quarter. Green responded to the contact from Reid by jumping and flailing his arms out, catching his opponent in the back of the head and sending him to the floor.The officials reviewed the play and deemed it a common foul on Reid and a technical foul on Green.Green was heated after the decision was announced, to the […]
Related
Will Power takes Will Buxton around the IMS Road Course ahead of Sonsio Grand Prix | INDYCAR On FOX
NTT INDYCAR SERIES Video Details Will Power takes Will Buxton around the IMS Road Course ahead of the 2025 Sonsio Grand Prix to discuss his experience at the track, and how to beat Álex Palou. 1 MIN AGO・NTT INDYCAR SERIES・5:36
Fluminense perde para San José na altitude de La Paz e deixa liderança do Grupo F na Sul-Americana
Em busca de retomar a liderança do grupo, o Fluminense tem pela frente dois jogos em casa, contra Unión Española, 14 de maio, e Once Caldas, 28 do mesmo mês. Antes disso, enfrenta o Atlético-MG, neste domingo, às 17h30, em Belo Horizonte, pelo Brasileiro.
Anthony Edwards returned to Game 2 after spraining his left ankle
<!--> Anthony Edwards exited Game 2 of the Minnesota Timberwolves' Western Conference semifinal series against the Golden State Warriors after sustaining a left ankle sprain midway through the second quarter. The Timberwolves were leading 37-19 with 6:36 remaining in the second quarter when Edwards attempted a leaping left-handed layup in transition. Trayce Jackson-Davis, who successfully contested Edwards' shot, landed on his ankle, the weight of the Warriors' big man causing it to turn, awkwardly. Edwards missed the remainder of the first half and the Timberwolves announced his return status as questionable, but he was able to start the second half. The 23-year-old Edwards, a three-time All-Star, has shown resilience when it comes to mid-game injuries this postseason. He sustained an ankle injury in Game 4 of the Timberwolves' first-round series with the Los Angeles Lakers when LeBron James undercut him while diving for […]
Charge surprise top-seeded Victoire in Game 1 of PWHL semis
Dec 7, 2024; Buffalo, New York, USA; A general view of the hockey puck used for a game between the Buffalo Sabres and the Utah Hockey Club at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images Shiann Darkangelo scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period to lift the Ottawa Charge over the host Montreal Victoire 3-2 in Game 1 of their best-of-five PWHL semifinal series on Thursday. Emily Clark gathered a loose puck in Ottawa's offensive zone and quickly passed it to Darkangelo, who slotted home the tiebreaking goal past Ann-Renee Desbiens 9:17 into the period. Brianne Jenner and Ashton Bell also scored for the Charge, who can take a commanding series lead on Sunday in Game 2 before the series shifts to Ottawa next week. Maureen Murphy and Marie-Philip Poulin had the goals for Montreal, which outshot […]
Logan Thompson, Capitals even series with Hurricanes
May 8, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson (48) makes a save on Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) as Capitals defenseman John Carlson (74) defends in the second period in game two of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Logan Thompson made 27 saves and Tom Wilson had a goal and an assist in the Washington Capitals' 3-1 win over the visiting Carolina Hurricanes in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series Thursday. Connor McMichael and John Carlson also scored for the Capitals. The series is tied 1-1 as the Hurricanes assume the home-ice advantage. Game 3 is Saturday in Raleigh, N.C. Carolina is outshooting Washington by a 61-35 margin in the series, including a 28-21 edge in Game 2. […]
NBA playoffs: Draymond Green only 2 technical fouls from suspension after picking up another in Game 2
Two days after losing Stephen Curry, the Golden State Warriors are nearing the point where they could be without Draymond Green as well.The veteran big man picked up his fifth technical foul in nine playoff games this postseason on Thursday, leaving him two techs away from an automatic one-game suspension. Green has received such a suspension before, famously in the 2016 NBA Finals.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe foul occurred in Game 2 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, when T-Wolves big man Naz Reid fouled him in the second quarter. Green responded to the contact from Reid by jumping and flailing his arms out, catching his opponent in the back of the head and sending him to the floor.The officials reviewed the play and deemed it a common foul on Reid and a technical foul on Green.Green was heated after the decision was announced, to the […]
Be the first to leave a comment