Can the Los Angeles Angels catch Ohtani Shohei (29)?
On the 8th (Korean time), MLB.com, the official major league media, selected one player for each of the 30 major league clubs to sign an extension contract this year. In the Angels, Ohtani, who is facing free agency, was selected.
Ohtani emerged as one of the top stars in the major leagues when he unanimously won the 2021 American League MVP. Last year, as a hitter, he had a batting average of 207.3 (160 hits in 586 bats), 34 homers, 95 RBIs, OPS .875 in 157 games as a hitter, and a 15-9 ERA of 2.33 in 28 games (166 innings) as a pitcher, finishing second in MVP voting. occupied 안전놀이터
Ohtani, who signed a one-year, $30 million (approximately 37.8 billion won) contract extension with the Angels ahead of the 2023 season, will be eligible for free agency after the season ends. There is also a prospect that Ohtani, who is considered the largest FA player, can sign a super-large contract worth more than 500 million dollars (approximately 630 billion won).
The Angels have secured Mike Trout, one of the best players in the major leagues, with a 12-year, $426.5 million contract extension. Last year, there was a prospect that Ohtani could be traded, but the Angels eventually kept Ohtani without letting him go. There is a possibility that he will focus on extending his contract as much as he gave up the real benefit of acquiring a prospect through a trade.
MLB.com said of Ohtani, “I’ll put it simply: ‘Just sign a contract extension with Ohtani, okay?'”, emphasizing Ohtani as a player who deserves an extension.
However, it is not realistically easy for the Angels to catch Ohtani. This is because there are players tied to high-priced long-term contracts such as Trout and Anthony Rendon, and the club is currently in the process of being sold. It is difficult to extend the contract with Ohtani unless a new owner like the Mets emerges with a strong will to invest.
Fans are interested in whether Ohtani, who grew up as the best star in the Angels, will be able to stay with the Angels, or whether he will eventually leave the team.