Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto Has an Interesting Wrinkle in His Contract
The Los Angeles Dodgers splurged this off-season. The Boys in Blue are by far the biggest spenders this offseason, committing more than $1 billion in future salaries to two players alone.
Those two players are set to be the franchise’s cornerstones, and both hail from Japan: two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and right-handed pitching ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Ohtani signed a record-setting deal worth 10 years and $700 million. Most of that money will be heavily deferred, lowering the Dodgers’ luxury tax obligation and freeing them up to spend more freely over the next 10 years.
As for Yamamoto, his contract isn’t as generous, but it’s another hefty one. The righty ace signed a 12-year, $325 million deal that includes two opt-out clauses; however, there’s more. According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, there’s a new wrinkle to Yamamoto’s contract with the Boys in Blue:
He can opt out of his contract after the 2029 and 2031 seasons, but if he undergoes Tommy John surgery or misses at least 134 consecutive days with right elbow problems, he can not opt out until after the 2031 and 2033 seasons. Yamamoto also has a provision in the contract that would enable him to opt out of his deal after any season if the Dodgers trade him.
Per Bob Nightengale via USA Today
If the best-case scenario sees Yamamoto spend the next 12 years in a Dodger uniform, a surgery, opt-out, or trade would be markedly worse.
If all pans out, Yamamoto will be the team’s ace and possibly the best pitcher in the league, with multiple Cy Young awards, All-Star appearances, and World Series titles. If injuries get in the way of that, the Dodgers have protected themselves financially — not as much as they did with Ohtani, but not insignificantly, either.
A six-year, $162.5 million contract for a player who loses 18-24 months recovering from Tommy John surgery is not nearly as team-friendly as an eight-year, $216.7 million contract for the same player. The contract clause reasonably assures the Dodgers that Yamamoto will be on their active roster — not their disabled list — for at least six years either way.
For now Yamamoto is healthy, in his prime, and eager to perform. The excitement is palpable. How many of his contract clauses come into play is a problem for the future.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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