World Series three-peat – or not – Dodgers owe $1.1B in deferred payments

World Series three-peat – or not – Dodgers owe $1.1B in deferred payments originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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For anyone wondering if MLB will face financial reckoning this winter, just look at the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ accounting books. 

Late Friday night, the back-to-back World Series champions acquired Tarik Skubal, arguably the sport’s best pitcher, from the Detroit Tigers for three prospects. The Dodgers also added the final third of Skubal’s one-year, $32 million deal.

The Dodgers (69-42), who are streaking toward their fifth consecutive NL West pennant, had the league’s second-highest total payroll of $311.7 million. The last-place New York Mets lead the league at $323.3 million.

Shohei Ohtani is competing in the third season of a 10-year, $700 million deal. The hampered designated hitter/pitcher’s contract calls for the Dodgers to pay $68 million in deferred payments from 2034-43.

The Dodgers owe $1.1 billion in deferred payments to 10 players through 2047.

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The Dodgers may have created a dynasty, but the organization will pay a high price for its success over the next three decades.

Shortstop Mookie Betts is owed $115 million and will be paid at least $8 million annually from 2033-44.

Here are 10 players the Dodgers owe deferred payments to, the payment timeframe and the amount, according to Spotrac.com:

• Ohtani, 2034-43, $680 million
• Betts, 2033-44, $115 million
• Blake Snell, 2035-46, $66 million
• Freddie Freeman, 2028-40, $57 million
• Will Smith, 2034-43, $50 million
• Kyle Tucker, 2036-45, $30 million
• Tommy Edman, 2035-44, $25 million
• Teoscar Hernandez, 2030-39, $23.5 million
• Tanner Scott, 2030-39, $21 million
• Edwin Diaz, 2036-47, $13.5 million

With the Dodgers stacking promissory notes, MLB officials continue to brace for contentious collective bargaining agreement negotiation sessions next offseason. The owners seek competitive balance, but the MLB Players’ Union strongly objects to a salary cap.

By adding Skubal, the Dodgers remain heavily favored to earn a third consecutive World Series title. Trust that the ownership group will enjoy the championship run. They will be paying for it for decades.

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