CONTRACT • L.A. will have big bills coming due
most legendary and pathbreaking players. We congratulate him on his historic contract with our storied franchise,” said Mark Walter, chairman of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Guggenheim Baseball. “Shohei is a once-in-a-generation talent and one of the most exciting professional athletes in the world.”
Ohtani’s total dollars are 64 percent higher than baseball’s previous record, a $426.5 million, 12-year deal for Angels outfielder Mike Trout that began in 2019.
His $70 million average salary is 62 percent above the previous high of $43,333,333, shared by pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander with deals they struck with the New York Mets. Ohtani’s average salary nearly doubles the roughly $42.3 million he earned with the Angels. It also exceeds the entire payrolls of Baltimore and Oakland this year.
However, for the luxury tax he will count only slightly more than Aaron Judge, who is a $40 million annual charge to the Yankees’ payroll as he enters the second season of a $360 million, nine-year contract.
Kelly giving up No. 17
Reliever Joe Kelly is switching uniform numbers after finalizing his $8 million, one-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday, opening No. 17 for Ohtani.
Kelly will wear No. 99 with the Dodgers. Ohtani wore No. 17 with the Los Angeles Angels.
Kelly’s $9.5 million option was declined by the Dodgers last month, triggering a $1 million buyout.
A 35-year-old right-hander, Kelly was 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA in 11 relief appearances after he was obtained from the White Sox along with Lance Lynn. Kelly went 2-5 with a 4.23 ERA overall in 42 games. Kelly had signed a $17 million, twoyear contract with Chicago.
Making room on roster
The Dodgers acquired shortstop prospect Trey Sweeney from the New York Yankees on Monday for left-hander Victor González and infielder Jorbit Vivas, opening roster spots for Ohtani and Kelly.
Los Angeles’ 40-man roster was full before the trade and the Dodgers needed to open two spots.
The 23-year-old Sweeney was selected by the Yankees with the 20th overall pick in the 2021 amateur draft. He hit .252 with 13 homers, 49 RBIs and 20 stolen bases last season at Double-A Somerset.
Anthony Volpe took over the Yankees’ shortstop job as a rookie last season.
González, 28, was 3-3 with a 4.01 ERA in 33 relief appearances and one start for the Dodgers this year, striking out 33 and walking 10 in 332⁄3 innings. He averaged 94.6 mph with his sinker and also throws sliders and change-ups.
Vivas, a 22-year-old second baseman and third baseman, hit .280 with 12 homers, 54 RBIs and 21 steals in 109 games at Double-A Tulsa this year and batted .226 with one homer, nine RBIs and four steals in 26 games at Triple-A Oklahoma City.