Shohei Ohtani’s unanimous 2025 National League MVP isn’t just another trophy — it’s the ultimate validation that the Dodgers pulled off the greatest bargain in modern baseball history.
When Ohtani signed his 10-year, $700 million contract, critics balked — until the details emerged. With roughly $680 million deferred, the Dodgers pay him only about $2 million per year in actual salary until 2034. In other words, they’re getting the best player on the planet for the same present-day payroll hit as a halfway decent middle reliever.
In effect, Los Angeles is paying couch-change for an MVP who simultaneously anchors its lineup and, now again, its rotation.