Whether you are a baseball fan or not, you cannot help but be fascinated by Shohei Ohtani, the star Japanese pitcher who just signed a multi-year deal with the Angels. Although Ohtani will only make his MLB debut this year, he is a marketable player with a high upside.

Marketable player

Several players have enjoyed success overseas, but one of the best is Shohei Ohtani, a Japanese baseball player with a strong batting and pitching arm. He is a two-way superstar who plays every day for the Los Angeles Angels. He has a huge market.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, and San Diego Padres are among the teams that have shown interest in signing Ohtani. Interestingly, the Dodgers might be the early favorite to sign him. But the Dodgers have plenty of young talent to choose from.

The Angels have not had much success in the past, and Ohtani might not be able to break through. The team has not made the playoffs in thirteen seasons. There is a lack of depth and talent at the top of the lineup, which could cause Ohtani to leave. He would be a free agent after the 2023 season.

But while MLB executives have criticized the Angels for not having the resources to build a championship-level team, Ohtani is a different type of athlete. He is the first player in MLB history to be elected as both a pitcher and a position player. He is also the first Japanese player to participate in the Home Run competition.

But more importantly, he is the first two-way star in baseball. In addition to his batting and pitching skills, Ohtani is a great influencer. He has appeared on the cover of four magazines in the last six months. He is a global phenomenon.

It is unlikely that the Los Angeles Dodgers will trade him. However, he is still only 28 years old and will be a free agent after the 2023 and 2024 seasons. That means he has the potential to earn $30 million per year as a free agent. That is an incredible amount.

While MLB is certainly looking to capitalize on Ohtani’s popularity, it is important to keep in mind that it is business. There will be harsh scrutiny on players’ values in the offseason.

If Ohtani is successful, he has a chance to transcend baseball and become a global icon. In fact, many outside the baseball world see him as the best talent in the game.

Open to extension

During the final week of the regular season, Shohei Ohtani revealed that he would be “very open” to negotiating a contract extension with the Los Angeles Angels. The 35-year-old Japanese player said that his primary goal moving forward is to win. It’s unlikely that he’ll have the same kind of season he had last year, but he could still lead the Angels to the postseason.

The Japanese slugger has had a great season. He’s struck out 150 batters and drove in 95 runs. He’s also hit 45 home runs, which ranks him fourth among qualified hitters. His two-way game, which included a stint as a designated hitter, has drawn comparisons to Babe Ruth.

The upcoming free agent’s name is being dangled in trade rumors. He’s being linked to the Yankees and New York Mets. He’s also been mentioned as a possible candidate for a major league team’s postseason roster. The Red Sox should keep tabs on his situation.

He’s also been compared to Babe Ruth, though he’s got no comparable player in modern baseball. He’s been dubbed an international mega-star and has a wRC+ of 120 or better in three previous big league seasons.

Ohtani has shown a lot of love for the Angels organization. He led off the lineup in the team’s final game of the season. He’s been a fixture on the mound, as well, going 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA in 23 starts. He was also a big part of the team’s best two-way performance.

But it’s hard to determine how much money Ohtani should be earning. Considering his age, it’s unlikely he’ll be able to get a huge contract in his early 30s. If he did, it’d likely be one of the richest in major league history.

The Angels may have to settle for an extension with Ohtani that’s not the biggest gimmick. His deal consists of two years of salary arbitration followed by one of free agency. They’ll have to decide whether the dollar value of the extension is worth it.

If he gets an extension, he’ll probably be eligible for the most lucrative contract in major league history. The Angels could trade him, or even sell the team to make room for him.

Long-term deal

During his first full season in the majors, Shohei Ohtani has made an impact on the MLB scene. He leads the league in home runs, strikeouts per nine innings, and total bases. He also ranks among the top five in ERA, OPS, and wins. He is a rising star in the Japanese and American markets.

As he approaches free agency after the 2019 season, Shohei Ohtani has a lot of money to make. It is possible that he could command the largest contract in major league history. If he signs a multi-year deal, his average salary would exceed $43.3 million.

Ohtani will likely be the top player in the class of free agents in 2023. He is expected to be the highest-paid hitter in MLB. If he gets a multi-year contract, his average salary will surpass Max Scherzer’s.

The Angels have a lot to lose in letting Ohtani hit the free agent market. They would have a majority of their budget tied to him and star shortstop Mike Trout. The Angels have been a regressing team in recent years. Despite the talent on the roster, the Angels have not performed to expectations.

The Angels and Ohtani are working toward a long-term deal that will keep him in Anaheim. The Angels want to remain in the playoff race. They are eight and a half games out of the first place in the AL West.

The team had a chance to trade Ohtani before the deadline. However, owner Arte Moreno has ordered the front office not to do so. Keeping Ohtani on the roster, rather than trading him, is a priority for Moreno.

But Ohtani hasn’t been dominant in the field this year. He has struck out 156 times in 130.1 innings. He’s a little better on the mound than in the field. His ERA+ of 1.09 is better than Gerrit Cole’s. He’s only a little worse than Aaron Judge’s.

While it is true that the Angels have lost a lot of money in recent years, they haven’t had a great record with three key players. They haven’t reached the playoffs in four seasons, and they’re eight and a half games out of the top spot in the AL West.