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Shohei Ohtani casually announced on his Instagram he would sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In his introductory press conference, Ohtani politely thanked the Angels before signing with LA, but gave clear reasoning why he joined the team across the freeway: He wants to win.
"I mean obviously I want to win championships, and I want when people look back at the championships I won," Ohtani said through his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. "I want people to know or think that I was a core member, and I was a big deal, or I was a big part of that championship winning team."
His contract became a 10 year, $700 million contract with deferred payments beginning in 2034 for a combined $680 million after his playing tenure would end.
It was clear Ohtani proposed this idea to all teams who wanted to pursue him in order to help them sign other players and stay easy against the Competitive Balance Tax (CBT).
In turn, the Dodgers were able to sign Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12 year, $325 million with opt outs) and Tyler Glasnow (5 year, $135.5 million extension through 2029).
Ohtani comes from a team who wasted six years of his career, no winning record despite winning multiple MVP awards and being teammates with a three-time MVP in Mike Trout.
Health was an issue, but the Angels could never win with the poorly constricted pitching staff.
While he won't pitch a game in 2024, coming off an alternative surgery to traditional Tommy John, he should have an impact immediately for the Dodgers offense. In fact, he's in a shadow with players who are already great in Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.
Later in December, Yamamoto had his introductory press conference and while he carefully dodged questions about Ohtani as his teammate, he also wanted to win as his primary desire.
“It was very important to me to go to a team that wants to win,” Yamamoto said through his interpreter Mako Allbee. “And not only now, but in the future as well. I really felt that through this whole process, the Dodgers provided that opportunity to the most.”
Despite the significant signings by the Dodgers, their rotation is still flawed on paper given who is coming off injury.
The recently acquired Glasnow had an oblique injury in 2023 and missed nearly two months of action.
Walker Buehler is coming off Tommy John surgery as is Dustin May, who will likely miss all of 2024. Last postseason, the Dodgers had nearly no starting pitchers remaining with Clayton Kershaw laying an egg against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Nothing is a surefire thing, but Yamamoto and Ohtani should give them a boost for this season ahead.
From a marketing standpoint, Ohtani's presence pays for itself and the Angels learned this by not wanting to trade him. An automatic cash cow, plenty of visitors from Japan will visit Chavez Ravine like they did for Hideo Nomo nearly three decades ago.
The Dodgers spent several offseasons being mostly inactive or letting other players walk when they can afford it. Most notably, Trea Turner signed with the Philadelphia Phillies one year ago, Justin Turner joined the Boston Red Sox, Cody Bellinger signed with the Chicago Cubs (he's currently a free agent at the time of this writing), and even two years ago, Cory Seager signed a massive contract with the Texas Rangers.
It was this offseason they put all their resources into wanting Ohtani after missing out on him in 2017.
For Ohtani, he gives back right away with the recent earthquake in Ishikawa prefecture and the Dodgers matched his donation. Los Angeles is known for stars in Hollywood, yet it will be Ohtani carrying the baseball world and bringing others with him.
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