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Baseball star Shohei Ohtani has agreed to join the Los Angeles Dodgers in the biggest deal in the sport's history.
Ohtani was the subject of a lucrative bidding war after he decided to leave the Los Angeles Angels as a free agent following the expiration of his contract.
The two-way sensation is widely regarded as one of the best players to have ever played the game and was the most coveted target in baseball, with a slew of Major League Baseball teams after his services.
But after weeks of speculation over his future, he opted to sign for the LA Dodgers.
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In doing so, the 29-year-old has penned the biggest deal in the sport's history.
According to widespread reports, Ohtani has signed a 10-year deal with the LA Dodgers, worth a staggering $700 million.
The eye-watering contract is the largest ever in MLB and makes him one of the highest-earning athletes in the world.
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Ohtani's total was 64 per cent higher than baseball’s previous record, a $426.5 million, 12-year deal for Mike Trout that began in 2019.
The Japanese star, who can bat and pitch, took to social media to announce his decision to sign for the LA Dodgers.
"To all the fans and everyone involved in the baseball world, I apologize for taking so long to come to a decision. I have decided to choose the Dodgers as my next team," he said.
“First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone involved with the Angels organization and the fans who have supported me over the past six years, as well as to everyone involved with each team that was part of this negotiation process.
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"Especially to the Angels fans who supported me through all the ups and downs, your guys’ support and cheer meant the world to me. The six years I spent with the Angels will remain etched in my heart forever."
Ohtani has played for the LA Angels since he first moved to the MLB in 2017. He'll now ply his trade with the LA Dodgers.
He won the American League MVP award in 2021 and again last month. He also guided Japan to a famous victory over USA in March - their first ever win over them in the final of the World Baseball Classic championship.
Topics: Baseball
Nasir Jabbar