Shohei Ohtani had plenty of unusual wrinkles written into his 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
A “key man” clause that allows him to leave if Mark Walter and Andrew Friedman are no longer running the show. A deferred-salary structure that will pay him the bulk of his contract beginning in 2034. A premium luxury suite for home games and a hotel suite on road trips.
Ostensibly a mandatory annual appearance at “DodgerFest” wasn’t part of the deal. Nonetheless Ohtani will headline the Dodgers’ first public event since his contract became official.
The 2024 edition of the annual preseason gathering at Dodger Stadium will be Saturday, Feb. 3, and feature “a 90-minute stage presentation featuring interviews with Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow as well as visits from familiar faces like Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Joe Kelly, Dave Roberts and more.”
Tickets went on sale on the Dodgers’ website today. Each ticket costs $10, and general admission is limited to four tickets per email address. The event is free to season ticket holders.
In addition to the player Q-and-As on stage, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation will hold its annual Yard Sale with “one-of-a-kind Dodger items including jerseys, T-shirts, and more,” and “Mystery Bags” containing autographed baseballs, jerseys and photos.
Proceeds fro the Yard Sale will benefit the team’s official charity. No pressure, though. As part of his contract, Ohtani can donate up to 1 percent of his pay to the Foundation, too.
Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
