[Goose]

I'm thinking more about the future payment bubble As of October 2026, the Los Angeles Dodgers have deferred compensation agreements with 10 players, totaling approximately $1.095 billion in future payments extending through 2047. Here are the 10 players and their reported deferred amounts:

Shohei Ohtani, $680 million
Mookie Betts, $115 million
Blake Snell, $66 million
Freddie Freeman, $57 million
Will Smith, $50 million
Kyle Tucker, $30 million
Tommy Edman, $25 million
Teoscar Hernández, $23.5 million
Tanner Scott, $21 million
Edwin Díaz, $13.5 million

Does anybody know what "escrow" arrangements are required by these contracts? I would be pretty concerned about some future owner (or even the present one) declaring bankruptcy if paying them becomes impossible. I would also be concerned if the liability may be subject to negotiation in a sale. If it remains with the previous ownership they may not have an adequate revenue stream to pay it. Deferring compensation sounds like a potential windfall, in that the player can leave California and avoid taxes in the future. That is great only if the compensation can be paid.

[Goose]

I'm thinking more about the future payment bubble As of October 2026, the Los Angeles Dodgers have deferred compensation agreements with 10 players, totaling approximately $1.095 billion in future payments extending through 2047. Here are the 10 players and their reported deferred amounts:

Shohei Ohtani, $680 million
Mookie Betts, $115 million
Blake Snell, $66 million
Freddie Freeman, $57 million
Will Smith, $50 million
Kyle Tucker, $30 million
Tommy Edman, $25 million
Teoscar Hernández, $23.5 million
Tanner Scott, $21 million
Edwin Díaz, $13.5 million

Does anybody know what "escrow" arrangements are required by these contracts? I would be pretty concerned about some future owner (or even the present one) declaring bankruptcy if paying them becomes impossible. I would also be concerned if the liability may be subject to negotiation in a sale. If it remains with the previous ownership they may not have an adequate revenue stream to pay it. Deferring compensation sounds like a potential windfall, in that the player can leave California and avoid taxes in the future. That is great only if the compensation can be paid.