OC Register: Angels to take Shohei Ohtani to arbitration hearing next month

[AngelsWin.com]

Sometime next month a panel of arbitrators will be hearing a case unlike any they’ve heard before.

The Angels on Friday reached agreements with five of their six arbitration-eligible players, the notable exception being Shohei Ohtani.

Although the two sides could still agree to a 2021 salary somewhere between the $3.3 million Ohtani requested and the $2.5 million the Angels offered, the case will be determined by a three-person panel of arbitrators.

“Both sides agree he deserves a raise, and just how much is the question,” Angels general manager Perry Minasian said of Ohtani, who made a pro-rotated $1 million in 2020. “We weren’t able to come to an agreement, but at the end of the day, that’s why this process is in place. Each side will present its case and whatever happens, happens.”

About 10 to 15 cases go to salary arbitration every year, but there has never been one like Ohtani, a two-way player without any comps in modern baseball.

In Ohtani’s first three seasons in the majors, he has a .269 batting average with 47 home runs and an .843 OPS. His adjusted OPS is 125, meaning he’s been 25 percent better than an average hitter.

Of course, in a shortened 2020, Ohtani struggled to a .190 average and .657 OPS.

All of that alone would make assessing his value difficult enough, even without the added element of his pitching. The last time Ohtani was healthy as a pitcher, he posted a 3.10 ERA through nine starts as a rookie in 2018.

Since then, though, he has had Tommy John surgery. He returned in 2020, only to have a forearm problem. In his last three starts, including one after attempting to rehab without surgery in 2018, Ohtani has pitched a total of four innings and allowed nine runs.

That makes assessing his value as a pitcher tricky too. Minasian said Ohtani is now “feeling really excited” about his health and the start of the season.

The Angels believe he can be a productive member of their starting rotation, and a middle-of-the-order hitter in 2021.

If he can do all of that, the $3.3 million Ohtani requested would be a bargain. But his struggles as a hitter and injuries as a pitcher have left both roles in doubt.

The arbitrators will have no precedent to lean on if they hear the case, because there hasn’t been a player since Babe Ruth to be used the way the Angels have used Ohtani.

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Although teams are allowed to continue negotiating up until the hearing begins, Minasian said the Angels, like most teams, now have a “file-and-go” policy. It’s a self-imposed deadline to stop negotiating once figures are exchanged.

The Angels avoided the issue entirely with their other five arbitration-eligible players, agreeing on deals with pitchers Dylan Bundy ($8.325 million), Andrew Heaney ($6.75 million), Mike Mayers ($1.2 million) and Felix Peña ($1.1) and catcher Max Stassi ($1.6 million) on salaries.

Ohtani is one of just 13 arbitration-eligible players throughout the sport who didn’t reach an agreement before Friday’s deadline for exchanging figures.

The Angels went to a hearing last year with outfielder Brian Goodwin over a $350,000 difference, and Goodwin won. It was the first time since pitcher Jered Weaver in 2011 that the Angels went to an arbitration hearing.

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[Docwaukee]

1 hour ago, calscuf said:

In an offseason with no news, nobody wants to discuss the Angels taking Ohtani to Arb over $800K?

it's not just 800k long term.  Usually, players will get a percentage over what they got the previous year.  If they keep allowing it to escalate then it could be several million by his third year and also set a different precedent on what they think he'd be worth to extend.  

Also, he had an ops+ of 80 in 2020 and pitched 1.2 innings which is all he's pitched in two years.  Arbitration is set up for players to get paid what they are worth based on the prior season and not what the team might think he's going to be worth.  Every Arb agreement is used in future negotiations with other players.  If they agree to pay him the extra 800k for such a terrible performance then it will be brought up over and over and the team will stand to lose millions to other players year over year.  

You're an attorney.  You know this already.     

[tdawg87]

Ohtani deserves to lose money tbh.

[Angels Fan Forever]

12 hours ago, AngelsWin.com said:

The Angels believe he can be a productive member of their starting rotation, and a middle-of-the-order hitter in 2021.

 

Pay the man and move on. If he doesn’t perform to the level the Angels believe he can then it’s on them and they can address it or move on next year. This is how arbitration works. It is quite literally a year to year process. It’s ridiculous to say the Angels will lose millions in the future if they pay him the additional 800 K this year. How many millions do they make this year if he performs like they believe he will?

[UndertheHalo]

Doesn’t seem like a number they should squeeze the guy over. 

[eligrba]

Actually don't care.  Ohtani has not been any help to the Angels.  I think at this point, he can be easily replaced.  With that said, I am not sure I want to give up on him, yet.  But I'm getting close.

[totdprods]

If Ohtani was really worried about $800k I doubt he would have left Japan to sign a league minimum deal. 

[Catwhoshatinthehat]

His potential can't be easily replaced and his upside is worth it especially at this point in his career being his first year of arbitration.  I don't blame Ohtani for asking for 3.3M and I don't blame the Angels for offering less.  The talent is obviously there but if he can't stay healthy and produce he becomes just another talented player who couldn't put it together consistently. 

[southpaw]

People are freaking out about the 800k difference and whether that Shohei is worth the 3.3 million or 2.5. But many seem confused about how the arbitration system works....
 

Understand- it is the only the midpoint of the arbitration figures that matter. In the arbitration process, all Ohtani’s reps need to argue is is Shohei worth over 2.9 (the midpoint). That can be over a dollar over. If the arbitrator rules that Ohtani is worth over $1 over the 2.9, then he is awarded 3.3. If the arbitrators rule that he is under that under that amount, he gets only the 2.5.  The number Ohtani’s side is intentionally too high.  
 

In addition a benefit to the arbitration process too is also to allow more time for extending a multi year contract if the team is willing to do that.  Think everyone needs to calm down and trust the process.  
 

 

Edited January 16, 2021 by southpaw

[Blarg]

1 hour ago, southpaw said:

People are freaking out about the 800k difference and whether that Shohei is worth the 3.3 million or 2.5.

Nobody is freaking out. 

[AngelsLakersFan]

On 1/16/2021 at 1:38 AM, Dochalo said:

it's not just 800k long term.  Usually, players will get a percentage over what they got the previous year.  If they keep allowing it to escalate then it could be several million by his third year and also set a different precedent on what they think he'd be worth to extend.  

Also, he had an ops+ of 80 in 2020 and pitched 1.2 innings which is all he's pitched in two years.  Arbitration is set up for players to get paid what they are worth based on the prior season and not what the team might think he's going to be worth.  Every Arb agreement is used in future negotiations with other players.  If they agree to pay him the extra 800k for such a terrible performance then it will be brought up over and over and the team will stand to lose millions to other players year over year.  

You're an attorney.  You know this already.     

I was going to make this point and in addition the possibility that losing this case opens up the potential for Ohtani to be non-tendered in year three. As you mentioned these figures compound over the years and right now Ohtani isn't worth all that much. His pitching has been worthless and his hitting was barely major league caliber last year.

[Revad]

 

18 minutes ago, AngelsLakersFan said:

I was going to make this point and in addition the possibility that losing this case opens up the potential for Ohtani to be non-tendered in year three. As you mentioned these figures compound over the years and right now Ohtani isn't worth all that much. His pitching has been worthless and his hitting was barely major league caliber last year.

This could get serious 

[Blarg]

You guys worry too much about nothing of substance. 

[T.G.]

13 minutes ago, Blarg said:

You guys worry too much about nothing of substance. 

Said the guy who asked us if his jeans made him look fat.