Latest Shohei Ohtani Chatter May be Pricing Him Out of Angels Plan
The winter of Shohei Ohtani is here, and it seems like every day there is a new rumor out there. Nobody knows what type of contract Ohtani will receive, but he is in line to possibly make MLB history with his deal.
It seems that the UCL tear that Ohtani suffered during the season has caused some confusion about the amount of money he will get this offseason. Before the injury, it was a no-brainer that Ohtani would have received a $500 million contract, if not higher.
But with this injury, and the fact that he won’t be able to be a two-way player in 2024, it could come down in price. One National League executive stated that they had no idea what the contract would look like when all is said and done.
“I truly don't know,” another NL exec said. “I had my own opinion before he got hurt and I truly have no idea where he’s going or what the contract will look like considering the injury. You could tell me he’s going to get $300 million or $800 million and I would say, ‘OK, I could see that.’ It's going to be fascinating.”
Ohtani will more than makeup for whatever amount a team gives him this offseason. His marketability alone is insane and will help the team that lands him out exponentially.
“There's going to be competition which is going to drive the price up,” another AL exec said. “Before the injury, I thought, ‘How do you not pay $700 million for him?’ He’s a two-way guy that is exceptional; if you were signing two guys that do what he did, it would cost you $700 million. I know he's one person and that's a tough thing to navigate, but I still don't think he takes a huge hit. He's not going to have a shortage of suitors.”
The Angels want him back of course, but are they willing to spend what it takes? That is the question, especially given their lack of success over the years with him on the roster.
“I know the Angels are trying hard for him,” an NL executive said. “They want to show people that they're trying.”
He has mainly been linked to the cross-town Los Angeles Dodgers for quite some time now, and if he were to sign there, it could be a massive move for all involved. Ohtani would get to play for one of the league’s premier organizations, and LA would land the biggest show in baseball.
Whatever happens with Ohtani, this free agency will be one of the most closely watched in baseball history. It’s not every day that the modern-day Babe Ruth enters into free agency, and teams are all trying to land him.
