Dodgers’ payroll hits $1BILLION in deferred payments with latest signings amid champs’ pursuit of Juan Soto
The Los Angeles Dodgers are world champions, but success isn’t coming cheap.
After beating the New York Yankees in the World Series, LA has recently agreed to new, lucrative contracts with free-agent pitcher Blake Snell and returning infielder Tommy Edman – deals that push the club’s total deferred payments to more than $1 billion for just seven players.
Snell’s $182 million contract, announced Saturday , includes $66 million in deferred money payable to the pitcher through July 1, 2046, according to contract terms obtained by The Associated Press. He’ll receive a $52 million signing bonus, payable on January 25, and annual salaries of $26 million, of which $13.2 million each year will be deferred. The deferred money is payable in equal installments each July 1 from 2035-46.
And because Snell is a Washington state resident, the signing bonus will not be subject to California income tax.
Meanwhile Edman’s $74 million, five-year deal, announced Friday , includes $25 million payable to the infielder and outfielder through July 1, 2044.
Los Angeles now owes deferred payments of $1,006,500,000 to seven players from 2028-46. And that figure could grow if the Dodgers fan find a way to lure free-agent slugger Juan Soto to the west coast. Soto could be worth something approaching $700 million – the same sum the team gave to Shohei Ohtani before the season, much of which is deferred.
