Ever since he entered the league in 2018, Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani has impressed everyone with his unique skill set.
Yet, he has been insanely good and consistent in the last two seasons, 2021 and 2022.
Those have been historically great, since no one else in the history of the sport has done the things he has.
Having a player hit more than 30 homers and post a sub-3.00s ERA with more than 200 strikeouts in the same season?
Only him.
And no one else.
Understandably, he has a high salary this season, his last of arbitration eligibility.
He is making $30 million in 2023, and will test free agency after the World Series if the Angels don’t extend him.
His agent spoke about his future, and Ohtani seems likely to test free agency.
He doesn’t rule out an extension, sure, but it seems very unlikely at this point.
“Nez Balelo (Ohtani’s agent) didn’t offer much information on his future. He said he was open to extension negotiations in ST, but that might be tough during the season. ‘There’s several layers this one. Shohei’s earned the right to play through the year and explore free agency,’” Angels insider Sam Blum tweeted, with Balelo’s quotes about Ohtani.
Nez Balelo (Ohtani’s agent) didn’t offer much information on his future. He said he was open to extension negotiations in ST, but that might be tough during the season.
“There’s several layers this one. Shohei’s earned the right to play through the year and explore free agency.”
—Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) February 20, 2023
If they want to retain Ohtani, there will not be a discount for the Angels at this point: they might have to pay full market price.
That is about $450 million, and possibly closer to $500 million.
That’s about what he would get in the open market today.
He will sign the largest deal in MLB history: it’s just a matter of months.
He is too good, and too many contenders want him for him not to surpass that $450 million mark.
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