Most would agree that Alex Verdugo is not a premium player.

That's why he isn't paid as if he were a premium player.

Net Present Value.

Literally, you can't even put an accurate value on Ohtani's contract.

We know it's a lot either way. Ohtani won't starve on $2 million per year.

It's just not a $700 million contract. Because a 2023 USD is worth a lot more than a 2043 (!) USD.

Name a player who played for the Chicago Bulls.

You thought of Michael Jordan. He hasn't played an NBA game in twenty years. The Bulls are still cashing in.

Celtics? Larry Bird.

Lakers? Magic Johnson.

LA Dodgers? Probably Jackie Robinson first. Koufax; Drysdale; Gibson with the home run; a few others come to mind.

Why is Ohtani worth $700 million? It's branding.

Ohtani is worth $700 million because the Dodgers expect to cash in on an international level until the end of time.

"I'd rather have two $35 million players than one $70 million players." As if this is about runs batted in, OPS, wins and losses. 

Of course it will help if he wins some rings, hits some iconic home runs, plays great baseball, etc. The expectations are that he will accomplish these things. Even more important is his ability to increase the value of the Dodgers franchise over time. The expectation is that he will accomplish this for a lot longer than ten years.

 

Fox signed Tom Brady to a $375 million contract to be an NFL analyst. Who knows if he will be a charismatic on-air analyst? Fox just wants to associate themselves with Brady. That is worth $375 million to them.

Perhaps the Dodgers were bidding against themselves and didn't have to go that high? It's fine. They've got the long game in mind.

This does not guarantee that the Dodgers will win a World Series title and it negatively affects their draft capital.

Also, the Dodgers still need pitching depth.

Just repeating some of the standard objections.

Juan Soto is such a drag.

"Short of watching every inning of all 162 games, it’s foolish to assign specific blame to an aggravating 82-80 season. Surely there might have been times Soto lost sight of a bigger picture for individual gain, but that could be said of any player, in any year and besides, by year’s end, his numbers spoke loudly.

Yet somehow, the formula was off."

The 2023 Yankees were also a disappointing 82-80 last season.

Maybe it was because Michael King and Kyle Higashioka lost sight of a bigger picture for individual gain.

Ever think of that?

Soto already has a ring. Soto batted about 1.000 in the World Series if you give credence to small sample sizes. Soto batted .299 with RISP last season and .304 with two outs and RISP.

Anthony Rizzo had one hit with two outs and RISP last season. Anthony Rizzo: The #3 hitter that you forgot was even on the roster when you heard the Yankees signed Soto.

This is just a typical lazy analysis.

"Since the acquisition of Soto doesn't guarantee a World Series title, the acquisition of Soto is a risk."

It's true!

"Wednesday, the Yankees threw Soto at the problem. A Yamamoto signing would give them a half-dozen players making at least $27 million. It is not quite a superteam, but that is the approach they are taking. To which the Padres say, good luck. They will try a different approach, and they don’t seem too broken up about it."

Good luck to the Padres as well.

The Padres, whose unerring approach has resulted in precisely zero World Series titles.

If the Yankees get Soto ...

 ... where is Verdugo going to get ABs?

Do you want a link to a statement by the Yankees on the passing of Henry Kissinger?

 If so, here is a link to a statement by the Yankees on the passing of Henry Kissinger.