Chris Russo says it’s ‘an absolute disgrace, bogus and unfair’ that Shohei Ohtani will defer $680m of his $700m Dodgers deal – a week after his shocking ‘atomic bomb’ reference about the Japanese star
Chris 'Mad Dog' Russo has labeled Shohei Ohtani's controversial Dodgers deal as 'an absolute disgrace' after it was revealed the Japanese superstar will defer most of the money in the deal.
Ohtani's 10-year, $700 million mega-deal raised eyebrows on its own, but fans and media were stunned when it was reported that the 2023 AL MVP would make just $2 million per year, leaving the remaining $680 million pushed back until 2034.
He will then be paid $68 million annually until 2043.
Like many baseball fans, Russo is not in favor of the unorthodox deal.
“That's completely bogus,” Russo said on his Sirius XM radio show. “That's salary cap bypassing,” Russo ranted. “The whole idea of the luxury tax is to prevent the hoarding of Major League players. This is an absolute shame. This is completely unfair to the ethics of the game. Baseball cannot allow this. You need to examine this and change it.”
Russo continued, “Why don't we just give the Dodgers every player?” Is this what baseball wants?'
Shohei Ohtani agreed to defer the vast majority of his contract until 2034
And Chris Russo is strongly opposed to the highly unorthodox contract for the Japanese star
“Boy, if you owned the Pirates or the Diamondbacks… you'd be in trouble for the commissioner. Are you going to allow this?
“This is why baseball should have a salary cap,” he added. “I mean, this is why the sport is a joke. You can't take this seriously.
Last week, Russo sparked outrage by referencing the atomic bomb in a rant criticizing Ohtani.
The 29-year-old, also linked to the Blue Jays, kept his cards close to his chest during the negotiations.
Russo didn't appreciate that and used an extremely insensitive analogy to discuss free agency negotiations.
“The fact that we're even discussing this is a complete joke,” Russo shouted during First Take. “This Ohtani scenario is a lottery: Did you know that when he won the MVP, he wouldn't even tell you his dog's name? Because he had his dog there when he won the American League MVP.
The 29-year-old two-way star will be unable to pitch next season after undergoing elbow surgery
“Anyone who pays Ohtani $600 million should have their head examined anyway. He won't pitch next year (after surgery on his right elbow – his throwing arm – in September). He is a DH (designated hitter).
'And what's the big secret? Jeez, he's a free agent. He's talked to six teams: Giants, meeting with the Blue Jays, Cubs are in the mix, the Angels. What is this, the atomic bomb? Can't we find out?
'This is baseball! He's a celebrity! This is what it's about. This is stupid, that if you reveal that you had breakfast with Ohtani, you should somehow be thrown out with the bathwater.”
During World War II, the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japan, killing more than 200,000 people.
He continued with another reference to World War II: “The idea that we should treat this like the Tehran peace talks in World War II is ridiculous – when Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill came together. It drives me absolutely crazy.'
Ohtani and the Dodgers will begin spring training in February.