Angels sign Shohei Ohtani to 2 year, $8.5 million deal, avoiding arbitration

[mmc]

 

ANAHEIM – The Angels today agreed to a two-year, $8.5 million contract with RHP/DH Shohei Ohtani. With the agreement, an arbitration hearing is avoided. Ohtani was the only unsigned arbitration-eligible player on the Angels 40-man roster.

Ohtani, 26, has appeared in 254 games as a hitter across three seasons with the Angels and has compiled 47 doubles, seven triples, 47 home runs, 147 RBI and 29 stolen bases. In 2018, he made 10 starts as a pitcher, going 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA (51.2 IP – 19 ER) and 66 strikeouts en route to winning the American League Rookie of the Year Award.

The Ōshū, Japan native originally signed with the Angels on Dec. 9, 2017 following five seasons with the Nippon-Ham Fighters in the Japanese Pacific League.

 

[Chuck]

Good move! 

We now just have to pray that Ohtani (2018) returns to the mound & plate. 

[tdawg87]

We got Ohtani!

[rafibomb]

For those of you who forgot what he was originally asking for in arbitration

 

 

[jsnpritchett]

Just as a reminder, the Angels offered $2.5M for this year, with Ohtani filing for $3.3M.  Assuming built-in increases for next year's arb, this seems like a reasonably fair deal for both sides.

[jsnpritchett]

 

[Angels 1961]

3 minutes ago, Chuckster70 said:

Good move! 

We now just have to pray that Ohtani (2018) returns to the mound & plate. 

This is crucial year for him on the mound.

[Second Base]

Great deal. Players typically share the same details about the arbitration process, that is eye opening and educational. I get the feeling that those are simply words used to describe how the teams impression of them and their values is. It can't help but create some hard feelings. 

I wonder what the percentages are, of players that go to arbitration and end up signing with another team in FA. I bet it would be higher. 

Edited February 8, 2021 by Second Base

[T.G.]

Hopefully, this will end up being a bargain.

[Blarg]

I wonder if he can earn his paycheck this time. 

[jsnpritchett]

1 minute ago, T.G. said:

Hopefully, this will end up being a bargain.

Could be.  But as I said above, I think it's probably fair for both sides, as there's still a good amount of risk involved with him.  For the Angels, even if he's terrible and/or hurt for both of the next two seasons, this deal isn't going to make them or break them.  On his side, he potentially leaves a small amount on the table for 2022 if he does well this season--but he also protects his downside in case he's hurt/bad this season.  Seems like a good deal all around, given that.

[Angels 1961]

5 minutes ago, Second Base said:

Great deal. Players typically share the same details about the arbitration process, that is eye opening and educational. I get the feeling that those are simply words used to describe how three teams impression of them and their values is. It can't help but create some hard feelings. 

I wonder what the percentages are, of players that go to arbitration and ends up signing with another team in FA. I bet it would be higher. 

50 - 50 either they do or they don't

[Angels 1961]

Good deal for pitcher/RF I mean DH

[Chuck]

 

[angelsnationtalk]

Good move by the Angels to sign him and avoid 2 years of arbitration. Hopefully he plays well so he can earn a longer contract. 

Still have high hopes for this kid on the mound in the future. Only 26 years old. 

[mmc]

 

[Redondo]

Good to sign him up for 2 years 

Now we need him to produce. 

[Chuck]

2 minutes ago, mmc said:

 

Damn, we have some room to sign some really good players via FA or take on some high $$$ contracts via a trade for 2022. 

[floplag]

36 minutes ago, mmc said:

 

Just to be fair that same page counts it as about 193 for the purposes of lux tax accounting. 

[floplag]

Good number, good terms, good sign, lets see how it works from here. 

[nando714]

Just stay healthy on the mound. Please 

[Angelsjunky]

1 hour ago, Ron Mexico said:

So what's the total length of his contract now 2 years ?

The contract is two years, but he's got a third year of arbitration in 2023, so three years of club control.

My guess is that the Angels are thinking that either:

1) He actualizes his potential as a two-way star, so they buy out the third year with a big extension.

2) He struggles and/or becomes a hitter only, they pay the third year of arbitration and re-evaluate come 2023.

If he's only a hitter, then they'll need to assess whether they even need him. I'd think his best shot as a position player would be at 1B; the outfield is pretty crowded for the next decade.

[Inside Pitch]

Definitely like that they left the final year of arbitration open for either an extension or to cut bait.  

[Robrock30]

Excellent!  Having secured guaranteed $ the financial pressure is off of him;  he now only has to focus on becoming MVP.

[failos]

I’m glad. At least the team doesn’t look like penny pinching pricks now. Ohtani better step up though, and I think he will.