ONE CONTRACT, ONE NIGHTMARE: EDWIN DÍAZ DEAL PUSHES OBLIGATIONS PAST A BILLION
LOS ANGELES, CA—The Los Angeles Dodgers are in financial shock tonight. The signing of star closer Edwin Díaz to a three-year, $69 million contract has triggered a stunning public revelation: the team’s total obligations for deferred payments to just nine players now exceeds $1.06 billion and extends through the 2047 season.
The deal, which defers $4.5 million of Díaz’s annual salary, pushes the team’s future financial commitments into unprecedented and dizzying territory, sending fans and financial analysts reeling. The staggering figure—which includes obligations to Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Blake Snell, and Freddie Freeman—makes every future roster decision feel like a high-stakes gamble, shaking the very foundation of the franchise.
THE BREAKDOWN: A GENERATIONAL LIABILITY
The addition of Díaz’s deferred payments, which run from 2036-2047, raises the Dodgers’ exact total liability to $1,064,500,000 owed to nine players. The massive figure is primarily driven by:
| Player | Deferred Obligation | Payment Window |
| Shohei Ohtani | $680 million | 2034–2043 |
| Mookie Betts | $115 million (plus $5M bonus) | 2033–2044 |
| Blake Snell | $66 million | 2035–2046 |
| Freddie Freeman | $57 million | 2028–2040 |
| Edwin Díaz | $13.5 million | 2036–2047 |
The high point of these payments is set for $102.3 million in both 2038 and 2039, a figure that represents a potential nightmare scenario for a future Dodgers front office.
THE HIGH-STAKES GAMBLE
While the practice of deferring money helps the Dodgers minimize their competitive balance tax (CBT) hit in the present, the sheer scale of the total liability is causing widespread alarm outside of the organization.
- The Team’s Defense: Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman has repeatedly defended the strategy, stating the club’s financial resources, managed by the Guggenheim ownership group, are prepared to invest the deferred capital to ensure the future payments are fully funded and accounted for.
- The Analyst’s Fear: Critics argue that relying on future returns to cover current liabilities is an inherent risk. A sudden, sustained downturn in franchise value or unexpected economic volatility over the next two decades could transform what is currently a competitive advantage into a severe financial crisis that hampers roster construction for a generation.
One contract, one nightmare—the financial tremors of this money move are being felt across MLB, forcing every rival team to question if the price of immediate, unbridled success is worth a debt that spans a quarter-century.
