Deferred Greatness: What Shohei Ohtani’s $700 Million Decision Reveals About Shared Success

I’ve never been much of a baseball fan. But when the Toronto Blue Jays made it to the World Series this year, I couldn’t help but start paying attention. Like many Canadians, I hoped they would go all the way — and though I was disappointed by their loss, I found myself unexpectedly inspired by their opponent, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The more I learned about the Dodgers, the more intrigued I became — not simply by their sheer talent, but by the kind of values the team embodies, which seem to have shaped their success. At the center of that story is one remarkable player: Shohei Ohtani, whose extraordinary decision on and off the field has come to define the Dodgers’ spirit this season.

When I first heard that Shohei Ohtani had deferred nearly 97% of his $700 million contract, I thought it had to be a rumor. Deferred payment structures are somewhat common — and yes, Ohtani is already wealthy — but still, who in the world, especially in professional sports, would willingly give up hundreds of millions of dollars “NOW” to receive it decades later?

But it’s true. Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers is structured so that about $680 million will be paid out only after the contract ends — between 2034 and 2043. During his playing years, he’ll receive just $2 million annually, a fraction of what his peers earn. It’s the largest deferral in the history of professional sports — and completely unprecedented for a player of his stature.

By doing this, Ohtani gave the Dodgers something more powerful than cash: capacity. His choice freed up hundreds of millions in payroll space, allowing the team to recruit other top players and deepen its roster. That flexibility enabled them to sign Yoshinobu Yamamoto — who would go on to become the World Series MVP — and to retain key stars like Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Tyler Glasnow.

For Ohtani, what mattered most wasn’t his own immediate gain, but the success of the team as a whole. By setting aside his personal interests for the good of the team, Ohtani was pursuing something greater — a legacy built not on individual glory, but on shared triumph.

And Ohtani’s strategy proved invaluable. In the decisive Game 7, even one of the greatest players of his generation — some would say of "all" time — struggled. Ohtani gave up three runs early to Toronto and was pulled in the third inning as a pitcher, leaving his teammates to carry the game forward. Yet others rose to the challenge, with Yamamoto stepping in to pitch brilliantly and close out the win. Ohtani understood that even the greatest player cannot win alone; true success requires trust, teamwork, and sacrifice. His deferral wasn’t just a financial decision — it was a reflection of a deeper, humbler truth: that he could not win, or even play, the game by himself.

This truth runs deep — not only in sports, but in business, politics, economics, and life. Greatness is never built on one individual’s success, charisma, or ambition, but through people choosing to see and work together for something greater than themselves. This is what Wendell Berry explores in his essay “Two Economies.” He contrasts the Lesser Economy — measured by speed, efficiency, and quarterly profit — with the Greater Economy, where the true measure of success is wholeness, community, and renewal. When we choose to live and work according to the rules of the Greater Economy, organizations — and even societies — become stronger, more sustainable, and capable of creating enduring legacies and mutual flourishing.

Ohtani’s decision gives us something to ponder. In a world obsessed with quick turnarounds and short-term gain, his choice reminds us that true greatness belongs to those willing to wait — to invest in the "whole" from which mutual prosperity and lasting legacies are born. And perhaps, deep down, this is what we all long for.

Tim Gouw. Aerial View of Sports Stadium during Daytime. Pexels, 139762, https://www.pexels.com/photo/aerial-view-of-sports-stadium-during-daytime-139762/.