The Los Angeles Dodgers are making waves in MLB, thanks to their top earners, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani, who has the highest earnings this season.
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Although Ohtani’s on-field salary is just $2 million this year, a whopping $60 million of his income comes from endorsements, easily making him MLB’s highest-paid player.
In a distant second, Bryce Harper is pulling in $7 million from endorsements, highlighting the massive gap between him and Ohtani.
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Ohtani’s various endorsements include big names like Fanatics, New Balance, Nishikawa, Seiko Watch, and Salesforce, placing him in a league with top earners from basketball and soccer.
This season, he has continued to break records. Recently, he became the Dodgers’ franchise leader for most extra-base hits in a single season, surpassing Babe Herman’s long-standing mark of 94.
“Playing at Dodger Stadium feels fresh and different,” Ohtani shared with Dodgers Insider. “It’s a refreshing experience to be here.”
Ohtani has deferred a significant portion of his $700 million, 10-year contract, which not only saves him on taxes but also allows the Dodgers greater flexibility to enhance their roster.
This clever financial strategy opened the door for the team to acquire another Japanese standout, Yamamoto, who is currently the second-highest earner with over $50 million from his new 12-year, $325 million deal.
Despite high hopes for the pitching duo, injuries have plagued both Yamamoto and fellow pitcher Tyler Glasnow, the latter facing a season-ending elbow sprain.
With the postseason approaching, the Dodgers are counting on Yamamoto to anchor their pitching staff, especially as other key pitchers like Glasnow are out and questions remain about veteran Clayton Kershaw and rookie Gavin Stone’s readiness.
While Jack Flaherty, a trade deadline addition, is stepping up, the Dodgers are hoping for Yamamoto to lead them through October.