Following the recent contracts of Tanner Scott and Teoscar Hernández, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ total deferred payments to eight players now reach a staggering $1.051 billion, spread out between 2028 and 2046. According to information obtained by The Associated Press, the Dodgers’ largest deferred payments are due in 2038 and 2039, each year requiring payments of $100.95 million.
This practice of deferring significant portions of player salaries has become a point of contention in Major League Baseball. During collective bargaining negotiations on June 21, 2021, MLB proposed eliminating deferred payments, but the players’ association rejected the proposed change.
“The Dodgers have gone out and done everything possible, always within the rules that currently exist, to put the best possible team on the field and that’s a great thing for the game. That type of competitive spirit is what people want to see,” baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said last week.
“By the same token,” he added, “it’s clear that we have fans in some markets that are concerned about the ability of the team in their market to compete with the financial resources of the Dodgers. And I think if we’ve been consistent on one point it is we try to listen to our fans on topics like this and I have heard people on this, believe me, I get a lot of emails about it.”
Los Angeles Dodgers Deferred Money By Player
Scott’s contract includes $21 million in deferred payments, while Hernández’s contract includes $23.5 million in deferred payments. In total, Hernández is owed $32 million in deferred compensation from the Dodgers. This includes the $8.5 million in deferred pay from his one-year, $23.5 million contract for 2024, which will be paid in ten equal installments each July 1st, from 2030 to 2039.
The Dodgers’ deferred payment obligations extend to several other key players. Two-way star Shohei Ohtani is owed $680 million between 2034 and 2043. Outfielder/infielder Mookie Betts has $115 million in deferred salary payments due from 2033 to 2044, along with the final $5 million of his signing bonus, payable from 2033 to 2035. Left-hander Blake Snell’s contract includes $66 million in deferred payments from 2035 to 2046. First baseman Freddie Freeman is owed $57 million in deferred compensation from 2028 to 2040. Catcher Will Smith’s deferred payments total $50 million, spread from 2034 to 2043. Finally, utility player Tommy Edman is owed $25 million in deferred payments from 2037 to 2044.
“It’s just how you account for it,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said when Snell was introduced. “We’re not going to wake up in 2035 and (say): ‘Oh my God, that’s right. We have this money due.’ We’ll plan for it along the way.”
Dodgers Deferred Money by Year
The Dodgers’ deferred payment schedule is substantial and extends over several decades. Their obligations begin with $4 million payments in both 2028 and 2029. These increase to $7.2 million annually from 2030 to 2032, followed by a jump to $17.2 million in 2033. The deferred payments then escalate significantly, reaching $90.2 million in 2034, $98.95 million annually from 2035 to 2037, and peaking at $100.95 million in both 2038 and 2039. In 2040, the obligation is $98.75 million, followed by $93.75 million annually from 2041 to 2043. The payments then decrease to $20.75 million in 2044 and $7.25 million annually in 2045 and 2046.