Potential payday of $250million? Where did that number come from?
Only 4 pitchers in history have received contracts that large. Shohei Ohtani (an obvious unique case), Yamamoto (who was 25; Crochet will not be a free agent at age 25 and has less experience and an arm surgery), Gerrit Cole, and Stephen Straburg (it was actually $245mill, but close enough. Also a strong contender for the worst contract in MLB history, as Strasburg only pitched 31 innings on it before injuries ended his career. Washington still owes him $70mill over the next two seasons.)
Ohtani will very likely see his pitching career end before that contract does, but he can clearly contribute other ways…