It’s Sho-time: Shohei Ohtani’s Next Chapter
Two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani is set to become a free agent at the conclusion of the 2023 World Series, marking a likely end to his six-year tenure with The Los Angeles Angels.
During that span, Ohtani has become one of the best players in Baseball both at the plate and on the mound. Labeled as “The Modern Day Babe Ruth,” Ohtani’s free agency is unprecedented territory for the modern era of baseball.
With predictions of his contract rounding out to around the $500 million dollar range. However, his recent elbow surgery will keep Ohtani from pitching until 2025. People are wondering if Shohei Ohtani’s stock is dropping, I’m here to tell you that’s not the case at all.
Shohei Ohtani’s Track Record
Ohtani is building a case to become one of the all-time greats, having already tallied 34.7 rWAR through his first six seasons. With three All-Star selections, Rookie of The Year, a Silver Slugger and an AL MVP to his resume, this year has been his best one yet, potentially closing in on another MVP trophy.
He’s finished 2023 with a career-high average of .302, 44 home runs and 95 RBIs. On the mound before his injury, Ohtani was 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA and 167 strikeouts.
The Current Situation
I will give the Angels credit for trying to become a playoff team and going for it with Ohtani and Mike Trout. Instead of trading Ohtani, I can’t blame Arti Moreno for not wanting to be “the guy who traded Shohei Ohtani.”
However, it is the failure of the moves made that has compromised Shohei Ohtani health-wise. The team is 24-38 since the All-Star Break. Practically running him into the ground with his workload during that time. This has not come as a surprise to me; just look at Mike Trout’s teammates throughout his career.
Now, the Angels are staring down the barrel to a massive rebuild after failing to make the postseason every year since 2015 with at least one top-five player in baseball on their roster over that period. Maybe trading Shohei Ohtani may not have been such a bad idea after all?
Shohei Ohtani’s Free Agency
Ohtani is an elite hitter as well as a pitcher, and any and all the big market teams will be in on him. As of right now, various reports suggest the Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs and Mets, among others, could be linked to Ohtani.
A contract may go to one of two different avenues from my viewpoint: Around $500 million for a decade plus or short term with the highest annual value of any player ever, titles currently held by Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer at $43.3 million, per Spotrac. My money is on the $500M decade-plus type contract for Ohtani. I’m confident he will be worth every penny in more ways than two.
Ohtani’s Appeal
Beyond the production he will provide going into the second half of his career–as he turns 30-years-old next season, Ohtani’s impact transcends the confines of any stadium.
The international appeal of Ohtani and humble demeanor have made him a global sports icon in recent years, uniting fans from every corner of the globe and bringing in new fans to baseball.
Shohei Ohtani will make BILLIONS of dollars for the team he decides to sign a contract with making virtually any contract look like a bargain, no matter how much he signs for.
The Future
As the 2023 season nears its conclusion, Ohtani’s impending free agency will ignite a fierce bidding war among teams eager to secure his services, despite the Angels doing their very best to drop his stock in hopes of reaching the promised land again.
The unprecedented contract that awaits Ohtani is a testament to his extraordinary talent and the unshakeable belief in his ability to transform a franchise on both sides of the ball, as well as on and off the diamond. As for the Angels in this situation with Ohtani’s time in the uniform seemingly over, they will have another big decision to make in their other superstar Mike Trout.
As Shohei Ohtani prepares to make his next move, we can expect nothing less than Hall of Fame levels of greatness from the next highest-paid player in baseball, a player whose legacy will undoubtedly leave an indelible mark on the sport for generations to come.
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