Shohei Ohtani Comments On His Angels Future
Shohei Ohtani is under contract with the Los Angeles Angels for one more season.
He will collect a $30 million salary in his final arbitration year, and then will hit the market after the World Series.
As of now, he is a member of the Angels, but that’s not likely to remain that way once he reaches the market.
In the market, he figures to make at least $450 million, and there is a chance he eclipses the $500 million threshold given the number of contenders that will be bidding.
There is, however, another potential scenario, one in which he doesn’t even reach the market.
Yes, it’s unlikely, but the Angels could potentially extend him.
Is he willing to entertain an extension?
Perhaps, but he seems to be eager to hit the market and test just how much money he can make as a free agent.
“Asked Shohei Ohtani twice if he was open to a contract extension with the Angels. Wouldn’t say yes or no. ‘As of now, I’m an Angel. And that’s what I want to focus on.’ He said he wasn’t sure if his agent has spoken with Angels FO about extension,” Angels insider Sam Blum tweeted.
Asked Shohei Ohtani twice if he was open to a contract extension with the Angels. Wouldn’t say yes or no.
“As of now, I’m an Angel. And that’s what I want to focus on.”
He said he wasn’t sure if his agent has spoken with Angels FO about extension.
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) February 16, 2023
Ohtani will be in the Angels’ training camp for a few days and will even pitch in a game, but he will fly to Japan’s camp to prepare for the World Baseball Classic in early March.
After the WBC, he will return stateside to see if he can replicate his incredible performances of 2021 and 2022, when he was first and second in the MVP voting.
If he can, look out, because he could make some serious cash.
He will anyway, even if he can’t quite match that level.