SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Scott Boras spoke 41 words, but one would have sufficed: No. The MLB agent’s response came after a question about whether star free-agent slugger Juan Soto would consider a heavily deferred contract similar to Shohei Ohtani ’s 10-year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers last offseason. Ohtani’s current contract is valued at $460.
8 million by MLB , with an average annual salary of $46.08 million for luxury tax purposes. Advertisement Ohtani’s ability to accept a $2 million annual salary stems from his massive endorsement income, which Sportico projected at $65 million per year in March.
In contrast, Soto’s endorsement earnings are estimated at around $3 million annually. Should Soto end up in a long-term deal with a team like the New York Yankees, his endorsement income could rise, but it would still fall short of Ohtani’s staggering total — especially given Ohtani’s iconic status in Japan. Ohtani’s contract structure allowed the Dodgers to sign key free agents and will continue benefiting them in the years ahead.
However, Soto is unlikely to follow in Ohtani’s footsteps. “I don’t think tax considerations are the focal point when you’re talking about a business opportunity where you can literally make billions by acquiring someone like him,” Boras said at MLB’s general managers’ meetings on Wednesday. Brian Cashman said he spoke to Scott Boras yesterday about Juan Soto: "We certainly have interest in retaining .
