(Los Angeles) The Los Angeles Dodgers will hold a press conference on Thursday to officially introduce Shohei Ohtani to the press.
Ohtani, a two-time American League MVP, agreed to a 10-year, US$700 million ($945 million) contract with the Dodgers last weekend. The team announced Monday that 97% of that amount will be paid deferred without interest, so the contract won’t be paid in full until 2043.
Ohtani will therefore appear in front of the microphones at Dodger Stadium at 3 p.m. Thursday local time, or 6 p.m. Quebec time.
A star as both a hitter and pitcher, the 29-year-old left the Los Angeles Angels as a free agent after spending six years with the team.
He hasn’t met with members of the media since Aug. 9, two weeks before he suffered an injury that will keep him off the mound until 2025. He had surgery on Sept. 19, but the exact procedure that was practiced has not been revealed.
Ohtani will only receive $20 million over the next ten years, the length of his contract. The remaining $680 million will be paid from 2034 to 2043, an unusual structure that will give the Dodgers some flexibility in future seasons.
Ohtani had 44 home runs and 95 RBIs this season, appearing in 135 games. In 23 starts, he was 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA.
