Part 5/7:
Smoltz contrasted Soto’s contract with that of Shohei Ohtani, another generational talent whose dual-threat capabilities as a hitter and pitcher continue to break ceilings in baseball contracts. He suggested that if the roles were reversed, Ohtani could command even higher figures based on market dynamics, performance metrics, and the evolving structure of contracts.
“Are we talking $800 million?” Smoltz pondered, acknowledging the financial considerations that could dominate discussions around such elite athletes while emphasizing Ohtani’s desire to contribute to a championship-caliber team.