Mark Walter, controlling owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, recently surprised the sports world with his sale of the Los Angeles Lakers for $12.5 billion.
The sale triggered some speculation about Shohei Ohtani, who has a clause in his contract that would allow him to opt out if Walter sells the Dodgers.
But Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports reports: A person close to Shohei Ohtani said that even if Walter ... sells the franchise, Ohtani is definitely staying put.
Ohtani, 32, is in the third year of a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers.
Opting out could afford him a chance to find a richer deal elsewhere. Joining the Dodgers has allowed the franchise to cash by signing lucrative marketing contracts with several Japanese companies.
That includes Uniqlo, a global Japanese clothing company that, according to the Los Angeles Times, signed a five-year naming rights deal worth more than $125 million. The payoff: it’s now Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium.
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Ohtani also has delivered on the field, winning the National League MVP awards in 2024 and 2025 while helping lead the Dodgers to back-to-back World Series titles.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shohei Ohtani will stay with Dodgers even if team is sold, says source