MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani shocked the sports world when he signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 29-year-old pitcher and power hitter’s record-breaking deal comes with some unusual stipulations, the most important of which is that the $680 million is deferred until the end of the 10-year deal. .
But that’s not the only strange thing about Ohtani’s contract. Let’s see what else is included. Additionally, there are some unusual clauses found in contracts in other sports.
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What kind of clauses are in Shohei Ohtani’s contract?
Ohtani can opt out of his record-breaking contract if either Dodgers owner Mark Walter or president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman leaves during the 10-year term of the contract. One MLB executive told USA TODAY Sports that this is the first time this clause has been included in a player’s contract.
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Under Ohtani’s contract, he will be given a suite at Dodger Stadium, will have an interpreter, and will donate no more than 1 percent to club charities. Written by Ken Rosenthal.
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Kyler Murray’s “Independent Research”
Arizona Cardinals received criticism for recruiting players “Independent research” clause Murray signed a five-year, $230.5 million extension in 2022.
The clause required Murray to film at least four hours of game film per week in preparation for the team’s next game. At this time, Murray specifically advises people not to “engage in other activities (such as watching television, playing video games, or browsing the Internet) that may be distracting while such content is displayed or played.” ” could not be done.
Arizona ultimately removed the clause from Murray’s contract. Team officials said in a statement. It was “obviously recognized in a way we never intended. Our confidence in Kyler Murray has never been higher and there is nothing to indicate our confidence in his ability to lead this team.”
Ichizo Suzuki’s rent clause
By 2007, Suzuki had won numerous awards. In his first six seasons in the majors, he won six consecutive All-Star Games and Gold Glove Awards, and was named AL MVP and AL Silver Slugger once.
Even though the Seattle Mariners were struggling at the time, Suzuki signed a five-year, $90 million extension with the team. Terms of the deal included a personal trainer, an interpreter, four round-trip flights to Japan each year, and either a new Jeep or Mercedes SUV.
But most unusual of all was that Suzuki received at least $32,000 a year in housing allowance. The current median rent in Seattle isn’t far off from this, but in 2007, this was a huge boost to Suzuki’s solid housing options.
Michael Jordan’s “Love of the Game” Clause
Jordan enjoyed unprecedented success on the court, earning numerous accolades including six NBA titles, five NBA MVPs, 14 All-Star teams, two Olympic gold medals, and an NCAA title. This icon doesn’t seem to do anything wrong on the court.
He didn’t want to limit himself to just the NBA or international basketball courts, and he got that in writing. Jordan’s contract with the Chicago Bulls included a “love of the game clause” that allowed him to play basketball anytime, anywhere, and with anyone.
Rick Myler’s “End of the World” Clause
A three-year starter at quarterback in college, Miller ended his Notre Dame career drawing comparisons to fellow Irish legend Joe Montana. The Seattle Seahawks selected Miler with the second overall pick in the 1993 NFL Draft.
Miler completed his contract with the Seahawks, and one phrase became the subject of jokes during training camp. Miller’s contract said he would be paid under all conditions “until the end of the world.”
Fortunately, he didn’t have to look up the value of the American dollar after the apocalypse. Miler played four seasons with the Seahawks, but he didn’t live up to lofty expectations, going 20-31 as a starter.
Monica Abbott’s Crowd Clause
Abbott is one of the best pitchers in American softball history, winning two Olympic medals and three gold medals at the Women’s Softball World Cup. Her NCAA records for strikes and wins still stand 15 years after she graduated from the University of Tennessee.
She began her professional career in 2007 in the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) Softball League, and by 2015 had won three MVP awards and four championships.
So it’s no surprise that the expanding Scrap Yard Dawgs signed her to a $1 million contract, the first in league history, ahead of the 2016 season. Her six-year, $1 million contract originally paid just $20,000 a year. With her annual salary cap at $150,000, Houston-area teams had to get creative to meet the $1 million total.
solution? The attendance bonus requires him to have at least 100 fans at the game, regardless of location or whether Abbott pitches. As a result of their efforts, the expansion team won the championship in 2017.
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