Event: Shohei Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers that that deferred $680 million of the deal. | IMAGN IMAGES / VIA REUTERS If Major League Baseball owners get their way, megadeals like those signed by Juan Soto with the New York Mets and Shohei Ohtani ⁠with the Los Angeles Dodgers will be a thing of the past, as part of their latest labor proposal to the MLB Players Association on Thursday.The owners want to implement a maximum contract length of five years for all free agents who switch teams, along with six years for free agents who re-sign with their existing teams. They also want to remove ​contract deferrals like in the 10-year, $700 million contract Ohtani signed in late 2023 that deferred $680 million of the deal.Among ‌the other ‌items on the owners’ agenda on Thursday was a $202 million limit on deals for free agents ​signing with other teams. There are more than 20 players in excess of that number, including four who more than double that proposed limit. Currently, the maximum contract value for a free agent staying put is six years at $265 million. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing, you can help us get the story right. SUBSCRIBE NOW