After last week’s blockbuster signing of three-time All-Star closer Edwin Díaz, the Los Angeles Dodgers made it evident once again that they will not avoid a steep payroll in their quest to remain atop the baseball world. 

But every transaction has a price, and the Dodgers’ bill is through the roof as the organization has surpassed $1 billion in deferred payment obligations following the acquisition of Díaz.  

Moreover, the payments are wrapped up in less than 1/4th of the club’s 40-man roster. 

“Edwin Díaz won't receive all of his $69 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers until 2047, with the closer's deal raising deferred payment obligations for the two-time World Series champions to more than a billion dollars due to nine players,” ESPN reported.

“The Dodgers are now on the hook for $1,064,500,000 through 2047, owed to Díaz, Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Blake Snell, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, Tommy Edman, Tanner Scott and Teoscar Hernández. The Dodgers' high point due in a year is $102.3 million in 2038 and in 2039. 

“Díaz, who gets a $9 million signing bonus Feb. 1, receives a $14 million salary next year and $23 million in each of the following two seasons,” it added. “The Dodgers will defer $4.5 million annually, with that being paid in 10 equal installments each July 1. The 2026 money will be due from 2036 to 2045, the 2027 money 2037-46 and the 2028 money 2038-47.” 

The deferment model for Díaz and his teammates will include payments ranging over the next decade to 20-plus years. 

“The bulk of the Dodgers' deferred money is owed to Ohtani, who will receive $680 million in payments from 2034 to 2043," the report indicated.

"Betts is next, with $115 million in salaries from 2033 to 2044 and the final $5 million of his signing bonus payable 2033-35. They are followed by Snell ($66 million 2035-46), Freeman ($57 million 2028-40), Smith ($50 million 2034-43), Hernández ($32 million 2030-39), Edman ($25 million 2037-44) and Scott ($21 million 2035-46).” 

The deferred payment model has long been utilized in Major League Baseball and other sports. Former New York Mets slugger Bobby Bonilla retired in 2001 with the St. Louis Cardinals but has been receiving roughly $1.2 million annually from the Mets for more than a decade, according to a July report by CNN.

The Mets pay Bonilla each year on July 1, which fans refer to as “Bobby Bonilla Day.” 

Bonilla will continue earning his yearly sum until 2035. Other MLB stars such as Rafael Devers, Francisco Lindor and Christian Yelich have deferment structures scheduled into the early 2040’s. 

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