MLB Insiders Discuss How Shohei Ohtani's Injury Impacts His Free Agency
The Los Angeles Angels - and two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani - received brutal news on Wednesday regarding Ohtani's ability to pitch.
Per Alden Gonzalez of ESPN:
Shohei Ohtani has a tear in his UCL, five years after the initial UCL tear that necessitated Tommy John surgery, and will undergo further testing, a little more than two months away from free agency, Angels GM Perry Minasian told reporters from Anaheim tonight.
Wow. Wow. Wow.
It's a devastating blow for the game's best player just months before he was set to get the game's biggest contract ever. There had been discussion that Ohtani would land $600 million based on his ability to both pitch and hit.
So how does this impact things moving forward? MLB Insiders discussed on social media.
Per Buster Olney of ESPN:
The context for Shohei Ohtani's baseball future has changed completely. There's just no way to know how much he'll pitch in the years ahead -- and it may be that the pitching side of his forthcoming contract will need to include incentives based on starts/appearances.
And from former MLB executive Jim Bowden:
How significant is the Ohtani injury to his free agent value? He would have received approx 10 yrs $550m..he'll now as a hitter get approx 10 yrs $400m with player opt out after 2025 so if he can return to 2-way player can go back out on FA market as one then.
That's an interesting idea, but of course, if Ohtani had to hit the market again, he'll be doing it two years older and that could impact his earning as well.
Ohtani is going to hit through this injury and he continues to be dominant at the plate. He has 44 home runs this season and is likely to win his second MVP award.
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