Part 2/6:
Blake Snell's deal with the Dodgers is reported to be a five-year contract worth $182 million. However, this impressive number comes with notable conditions, including a deferral of $60 million and a tax-free signing bonus of $52 million, thanks to Washington state's lack of a state income tax. The Dodgers have mastered the art of creatively structuring contracts, allowing them to maintain flexibility in their budget while adding top-tier talent.
Their approach evokes comparisons to strategies used in football, where teams can manipulate cap space to accommodate larger contracts without immediate financial repercussions. The Dodgers, who are already riding the high of their recent success, seem determined to continue this trend, throwing down a challenge to other franchises in the league.