Shohei Otani and the Angels avoided arbitration with a record one-year deal, but what does that mean about potential business rumors?
Ohtani is arguably the greatest asset in baseball, if not a professional. He plays on both sides of the ball, and can play as a bowler, designated hitter or even as a defensive player if asked.
With that in mind, Ohtani had to pay like that. The two-way player made just over $5 million last season. He will receive a raise of approximately $25 million by 2023.
According to Ken Rosenthal, Ohtani’s deal to avoid arbitration sets an MLB record, previously held by Mookie Betts.
Angels: What does Shuhei Ahtani’s contract mean for trade rumors?
The Angels received calls on Ohtani near the deadline for the trade, but they immediately hung up the call when they did not hear anything they liked.
Ohtani’s name may be mentioned in some trade talks, particularly given the precedent set in Juan Soto’s deadline agreement. Ohtani would achieve as much or more as Soto, as he is under 30 years old and is an almost unprecedented talent, save for anyone below Babe Ruth.
For Bob Nightingale, this deal shows the Angels have no intention of trading Ohtani, at least not this off season.
Ohtani initially signed a two-year, $8.5 million deal with Los Angeles in the 2019 season. The two-way star was coming out of Tommy John’s surgery, so he wanted to ensure some value for himself, even if he felt light at the time. MLB Trade Rumors Summarize those negotiations well.
“At the time of that deal, Ohtani only made 1 2/3 total runs during the 2019-20 seasons, due to Tommy John surgery and then a flexor strain. He was also coming off an average year on the board, scoring just 0.90/.291/.366 on the 175 board appearances during the 2020 season that was cut short for the pandemic.Although Ohtani was hardly the only player to struggle under the unusual circumstances of the 2020 campaign, there was speculation that the 2018 junior season might have been its peak, and that Ohtani would be better served by picking Either hitting or throwing.”
If Ohtani is unhappy with the loss, he can always ask for a way out. Few players have such a voice, but the Angels will have to listen to the best baseball player. With a new owner coming in, who knows what the Offseason plan will be?
An admirable inconvenience can smooth things out, but ultimately Ohtani’s decision on whether or not he wants to stay in Anaheim is up to him, and no one else.
[ad_2]
