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Shohei Ohtani has been headlining the news since his recent blockbuster signing with the LA Dodgers. Although the details of the deal were not made transparent until it happened, many new facts have been surfacing ever since. And despite criticism, agent Nez Balelo remains in awe of the Japanese slugger.

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At his recent Dodgers conference, details were indulged by both Ohtani and Balelo. Their revelations shed light on some particularities of the contract, and one adds feathers to Ohtani’s crown of kinship and kindness.

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Balelo praises Shohei Ohtani for the kindness he displayed

Super agent Nez Balelo recently told USA Today the reasons why Shohei Ohtani deserves a weighty appreciation for his tolerant approach to the deferred payment structure offered by the Dodgers. Shotime was instrumental in drafting it so that he could defer as much money as possible, as he revealed in the recent Dodgers conference. The reason?

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The two-way marvel wants to win, simple as that. The method in question locks down Ohtani to receive $2 million each year for ten years, deferring the rest of the $680 million. He gets it sometime between 2034 and 2043, which means the $700 million deal conclusively boils down to $460 million, according to MLB evaluations. That saves the team several more millions in the competitive tax threshold. Meaning the Blue Crew can invest in more talent to aid their World Series dreams.

For Balelo, what Shohei Ohtani did was an astonishing gesture of selflessness, “He did not care at all about the present value inflation,” Balelo pointed out. “He should be praised for this. He did not want to handcuff a team with his salary.”

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Watch This Story: Shohei Ohtani’s Two-Way Dream: Before Injury He Always Wanted Both

Ohtani made the “unselfish approach” of not being a stickler for the traditional yearly disbursements of a deal as he is more interested in his future contributions to the team and their commitment to him. 

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He would rather be more concerned about future competition than his bank balance. Which promises to grow by $680 million in a decade or so. Per reports, Ohtani has other sources that prove to be more than enough to sustain his yearly financial needs.

Per USA Today, several endorsements in play will draw Shohei Ohtani $50 million a year. That, added to his $2 million salary makes the unicorn the highest-paid player in the entire MLB realm. He is all set to pay back the team with his effervescent playstyle next season onward.

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Read More: Shohei Ohtani’s $680 Million Deferral: Unexpected $44 Million Escrow Account Revealed

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Written by

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Shrabana Sengupta

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Shrabana Sengupta is the Desk Editor at EssentiallySports with over a decade of experience in journalism and content management. She started as an MLB writer, covering key events like the 2023 World Series and Shohei Ohtani’s record-breaking contract with the LA Dodgers. After transitioning to an editorial role, she covered major events, including the 2024 Paris Olympics, 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and 2025 Kentucky Derby over the past two years alongside other major sports. Specializing in tennis, she has now covered top tournaments such as the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open live in 2025. Renowned for her editorial insight, Shrabana consistently produces content that has earned recognition from officials across multiple sports leagues.

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