Ohtani Likely Stays on $700 Million Deal if Walter Sells Dodgers as Fraud Probe Fuels Talk
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 13
Ohtani Likely Stays on $700 Million Deal if Walter Sells Dodgers as Fraud Probe Fuels Talk
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 13
Summary
The Athletic reported Shohei Ohtani would likely not trigger his opt-out even if Mark Walter sold the Dodgers, despite a contract clause tied to Walter and president Andrew Friedman.
That clause has drawn fresh attention because Walter is under federal investigation for alleged loan fraud, fueling speculation after his ownership group agreed to sell the Lakers for about $12 billion.
Stan Kasten said there are no plans to sell the Dodgers, calling it a "Laker story" and saying no changes are contemplated for the MLB club.
An $8 billion Dodgers valuation and the team’s reported $1 billion-plus revenue underscore why any sale would be extraordinary—and why a new owner’s spending appetite could matter to the club’s competitive edge.
Walter’s broader sports portfolio includes Chelsea FC, the LA Sparks and a stake in Cadillac’s F1 team, though none would likely raise cash on the scale of a Dodgers sale.