It's only one year, but why does Soto earn more than Ohtani?

Mar 21, 2025

LA Dodgers Shohei Ohtani's global value was once again confirmed in the Tokyo Series. REUTERS Yonhap News

New York Mets Juan Soto hits against the Miami Marlins on the 27th of last month (Korea time). AP Yonhap News

Japanese sports media Nikkan Sports reported on the 20th (Korea time) that LA Dodgers Shohei Ohtani will earn more than $100 million in sponsorship contracts this year, citing the U.S. sports business and media site 「Sportsico」.

Sportico announced on the 19th that Otani will make $100 million in advertising and sponsorship deals this year, becoming the fourth member of the $100 million club in global sports history after Tiger Woods, Roger Federer and Stephen Curry' he said.

Woods, Federer, and Curry are some of the best superstars in golf, tennis, and basketball, respectively. They are all praised for their skill as `God's realm.' On top of that, Ohtani is the first baseball player to join.

According to Sportico, 20 companies have signed sponsorship contracts with Ohtani this year. This year, six companies, including Beats, Epic Games, and Secom, have put Ohtani at the forefront of their marketing strategies. Existing New Balance, Panatics/Tops, ItoN, Kowa, Kose and Seiko also maintain contracts. In other words, the combined income of these corporate advertisements and sponsorship reached $100 million. Ohtani's sponsorship income last year was about $70 million, far exceeding $50 million during his time with the Los Angeles Angels (2023).

Otani is coming home in response to the cheers of Japanese fans after hitting a home run in the fifth inning of the second game of the Tokyo Series on the 19th. UPI Yonhap News

"We move very carefully and strategically on Otani's advertising contract," Ohtani's agent Nez Valero said in a Sportico interview. It is very important to work with all of those brands on how to utilize Ohtani through the campaign." This means that they do not make a blind sponsorship contract, but choose based on whether the brand fits Ohtani's image or meets Ohtani's future-oriented values.

Valero also said "Care is being taken not to over-expose Otani or exceed the promised amount within the deadline.". Sportico said 'Otani's contractors are all headquartered in the U.S. and Japan at similar rates. However, most of them are global marketing companies,' he explained.

Then, is Ohtani the highest-earning player in the Major League this year. I don't think so. New York Mets Juan Soto ranked No. 1 in major league revenue this year.

According to Sportico, Soto will receive an annual salary of $46.875 million and a down payment of $75 million from the Mets club this year. On top of that, sponsorship contract income is $7 million, earning $128.87 million in all of them.

It is weak compared to Ohtani, but Soto's sponsorship contract amounts to six companies. Last year, it signed a contract with beverage company Celcius and is the first baseball player to be sponsored by an energy drink company.

Ohtani lags slightly behind Soto in total revenue. It was found that the annual salary of $2 million and sponsorship income of $100 million earned a total of $102 million.

New York Mets Juan Soto was the highest-earning player in the MLB this year. AP Yonhap News

Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million FA contract with the Dodgers in December 2023 and decided to receive $680 million, or 97% of the total amount, over 10 years after the contract period ends. Instead, $2 million comes in every year during the contract period. In other words, most of his income while wearing Dodgers uniforms comes from advertising and sponsorship.

On the other hand, Soto signed a 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets in December last year, and did not set a single payment grace period. In addition, Soto can exercise the opt-out right after the 2029 season, which will lapse if the Mets decide to give $4 million more per year, a total of $40 million, for the remaining 10 years of the contract. In other words, the total amount of the 15-year contract will be up to $805 million.

However, Ohtani will rise to No. 1 starting next year. This is because if Soto receives all of this year's Cyning Bonuses, he will only receive a set annual salary after next year. In any case, for the first time in major league history, two players made $100 million this year.

Third place is left-hander Blake Snell, who joined the Dodgers this year, earning about $65.6 million in salary and down payment, including $64.8 million in salary and $750,000 in sponsorship income.

New York Yankees Aaron Judge ($47 million), Philadelphia Phillies Jack Wheeler ($42.2 million), Texas Rangers Jacob deGrom ($40.3 million), Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout ($39.5 million), Anthony Rendon ($38.1 million), Yankees Gerrit Cole ($38 million), and Minnesota Twins Carlos Correa ($36.5 million).

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.