Shohei Ohtani, Bobby Bonilla, Ken Griffey Jr., Top Contract Deferrals in MLB History

When Shohei Ohtani agreed to his historic $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers this past weekend, it was reported by The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal that the deal would include "unprecedented deferrals."

The eye-popping details of those deferrals were revealed on Monday, so let's take a look at some of the top stars to set themselves up with future payments.

Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers

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ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 30: General Manager Perry Minasian, Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels and Phil Nevin at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 30, 2023 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Per The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya, Ohtani agreed to defer all but $2 million of his $70 million annual salary until after the completion of his contract. That means the two-time American League MVP will be paid a whopping $680 million, $68 million per year, from 2034 to 2043.

The deferred money, which will be paid without interest, reportedly was Ohtani's idea. Ardaya reported that the two-way phenom is believed to make $50 million per year annually from endorsements and other off-field ventures.

The agreement surely will benefit the Dodgers when it comes to the luxury tax. The team will continue to be able to pay top stars Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman while also having enough room to continue its free-agent pursuits this winter.

Bobby Bonilla, New York Mets

Al Bello

19 Apr 1999: Bobby Bonilla #25 of the New York Mets looks on during the game against the Montreal Expos at the Shea Stadium in Flushing, New York. The Expos defeated the Mets 4-2.

Prior to Ohtani's historic deal, the gold standard for deferred contracts belonged to Bobby Bonilla, who will continue to be paid by the New York Mets until 2035.

Bonilla signed a five-year contract worth $29 million with the Mets in 1991, which was the richest contract in team sports at the time. He was traded away after three and a half seasons before returning to New York in 1998. He was released after the 1999 season, but the team decided to defer the $5.9 million he was owed with an astronomical eight percent interest to be paid over 25 years.

Since 2011, July 1 has been known as Bobby Bonilla Day, and the 60-year-old will continue to receive a check for $1.19 million on that day until he's 72 years old.

Ken Griffey Jr., Cincinnati Reds

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PHOENIX, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 01: Former MLB player Ken Griffey Jr. looks on before Game Five of the World Series between the Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on November 01, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Ken Griffey Jr.'s tenure with the Cincinnati Reds was mired by injuries and disappointment, but the Hall of Famer is still collecting a check from the franchise.

Griffey's nine-year, $112.5 million contract extension with the Reds in 2000 included $57.5 million in deferred payments with four percent interest to be paid from 2009 to 2024. His $3.59 million salary in 2023 was higher than every player on the Cincinnati roster besides Joey Votto, per Spotrac.

While next year's annual check will be his last, Griffey surely enjoyed the fruits of his deferred contract while he pursued a fun second career as a sports photographer since his retirement in 2010.

Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals

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PHOENIX, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 01: Max Scherzer #31 of the Texas Rangers celebrates after the Texas Rangers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-0 in Game Five to win the World Series at Chase Field on November 01, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The Washington National traded away star pitcher Max Scherzer in 2021, but they've been paying him to play for someone else for the past two seasons and will continue to do so for five more years.

When Scherzer signed his seven-year contract with the Nationals in 2015, he deferred half of his $210 million deal to be paid through 2028. The $105 million in deferrals is set to be paid in $15 million increments, a large sum for a player who's still active and winning the World Series with another franchise.

Scherzer's salary in 2023 was the second-highest on the Nationals despite the fact that he suited up for the NL East rival Mets and the 2023 World Series champion Texas Rangers.

Manny Ramirez, Boston Red Sox

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Boston - June 20: Before the game, Manny Ramirez, who was selected for the Red Sox Hall of Fame last month, but who was not present at that ceremony, was on hand to receive his plaque tonight. The Boston Red Sox host the Detroit Tigers in an MLB game at Fenway Park in Boston on June 20, 2022. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Manny Ramirez was once one of the faces of the Boston Red Sox, but the team is still paying him despite trading him away in 2008 and his retirement in 2011.

Ramirez signed an eight-year, $160 million contract with the Red Sox prior to the 2001 season that included $20 million options for 2009 and 2010. At the time of his trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Red Sox still owed him $32 million and agreed to defer the payments.

Since 2010, the 51-year-old has been earning nearly $2 million annually and he will continue to do so until 2026. It's another classic case of "Manny being Manny."