Shohei Ohtani Injury ‘Dramatically Helps’ Angels Chances of Re-Signing Him, Says Anonymous Executive
Things haven't gone well for the Los Angeles Angels.
The Halos have posted a paltry 7-18 record in August, falling out of playoff contention after they acquired Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, and others in what was supposed to be a momentous trade deadline.
Most notably, the Angels held onto two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani in hopes of making the postseason in an attempt to convince the impending free agent to re-sign this offseason.
The Halos dramatic fall put those playoff chances out of reach, and Ohtani's free agency is now very much in flux after he tore his UCL last week.
He won't pitch again this season and could be headed for Tommy John surgery, although the organization will get a second opinion.
But could the biggest blow in a season full of them be their biggest win in the long term?
It just might be, per an anonymous MLB executive who talked with USA Today's Bob Nightengale.
“Teams were looking at him as a No. 1 starter, and the hitting was secondary,‘’ one veteran executive said. “The value of Ohtani was 1-1, the No. 1 starter and the greatest DH in the game. No one was paying Ohtani to be a No. 3 starter. The teams that are needing a No. 1 starter now won’t go after him.“
"So, I really think this dramatically helps the Angels.‘’
If Ohtani has to undergo Tommy John surgery, he won't pitch until likely 2025 at the earliest, and it's unknown if he will pitch again at all, much less to his current level and output.
Because of that, his value in free agency likely dropped from potentially $600 million down to the $300-400 million range.
That would still be a hefty deal, but the Angels have shown that they're willing to sign players to big deals, whether it be Mike Trout's 12-year, $426 million contract or Anthony Rendon's seven-year, $245 million pact.
The latter's availability aside, signing the 29-year-old Ohtani to a roughly $300 million contract would absolutely be worth it.
Even with his UCL tear, he's still arguably the best hitter in baseball and would certainly keep helping the Angels at the plate.
And with his injury, Ohtani may be affordable for the Halos and some teams that would have gotten in the chase for his services may bow out of the race.
Losing Ohtani on the mound hurts the Angels, and it was the final, extra nail in whatever minimal playoff hopes the team had.
But their short term loss could turn into the biggest of long term gains this winter.
