Ohtani's Looming Free Agency

[Brian Ilten]

Its been a while since I have even read the board, so this may have already been asked. 

Just want to get a feeling of what everyone is thinking.

Edited August 17, 2023 by Brian Ilten

[Brian Ilten]

19 votes?  Thats it???? 

[Taylor]

Time for Arte to STEP UP and lock up Ohtani.

[Tank]

17 minutes ago, Brian Ilten said:

19 votes?  Thats it???? 

there's been something like 85,437 threads about whether to sign ohtani or watch him walk, 

we're kinda worn out at this point.

[Jay]

24 minutes ago, Taylor said:

Time for Arte to STEP UP and lock up Ohtani.

That would be pretty amazing.

[Chuck]

11 minutes ago, Tank said:

there's been something like 85,437 threads about whether to sign ohtani or watch him walk, 

we're kinda worn out at this point.

Yeah I think we all have Ohtani fatigue when it comes to this topic. 

[yamsi12]

He’s gone.

[Angel Oracle]

[fan_since79]

1 hour ago, Taylor said:

Time for Arte to STEP UP and lock up Ohtani.

I read somewhere this morning that his 'true worth' is something like $739 million for 12 years.

I don't know how they figure these things out.

[MPohleece]

Unless we get a new owner who’s willing to spend like crazy, I think it may be for the best to not get Shohei.

Locking up so much $ on one player, with higher risk of injury from the 2-way,  and leaving little left to sign others, not worth it. Let some rich owner take that huge risk. Angels might as well spread the risk by signing a good pitcher and a batter for similar $. 
If the goal is to increase chances of winning, investing long-term high dollars on two-way players may not be a good biz decision in general.

[full circle]

Unless Moreno suddenly turns into Steve Cohen, we can’t sign Ohtani and win, bottom line.  One, Ohtani will never be worth what he’s going to get, and two, Arte has already proven he won’t back it up with more spending when that inevitably happens.  
 

Unfortunately a rebuild in personnel and coaching staff is in order. 

[Angels 1961]

3 hours ago, full circle said:

Unless Moreno suddenly turns into Steve Cohen, we can’t sign Ohtani and win, bottom line.  One, Ohtani will never be worth what he’s going to get, and two, Arte has already proven he won’t back it up with more spending when that inevitably happens.  
 

Unfortunately a rebuild in personnel and coaching staff is in order. 

I do not think a rebuild is in order. Halos have good young players to build around. These young pitchers will improve as they get more experience. I truly believe if Trout, O'Hoppe and Neto been healthy all year Angels would be in playoffs this year.

[Chris]

He wants to win.  He is gone.

[m0nkey]

Both 1 and 2.  He isn't signing a 3 year $36 million deal with the dodgers or braves because he wants to win

[Tyler]

I didn’t think they would sign Vlad, I didn’t think they’d sign Bartolo, Pujols, Trout, Rendon. This guy wanted Turner last year. 
 

Im not betting against Moreno re-signing Ohtani. 

[Erstad Grit]

6 hours ago, Brian Ilten said:

19 votes?  Thats it???? 

its been discussed ad nauseam and no one really knows but Ohtani. 

Edited August 18, 2023 by Erstad Grit

[VladdyforHOF]

Personally I have a hunch that he does one of two things:

1. Stays here

2. Signs with Seattle

[AngelsFanSince86]

I put that he stays, but it's mostly wishful thinking. I think it's one of 2 things:

1) Ohtani is disappointed in the Angels and unhappy with the organization. Despite the fact he said he wants to win with the Angels, he mostly just didn't want to be traded while having one of, if not the, greatest season of all time during a contract year. As a result he will go elsewhere, but not necessarily the most money. He will go to an organization that will give him the same treatment the Angels did, but one that is better at up to compete in the next 5+years. I also don't think he'll sign as big of a deal as everyone thinks. I truly believe Ohtani knows well enough that getting paid $50-60M a year puts a major hamstring on a team. I think he figures out where he wants to play and takes $30-40M a year.

2) He wants to bring a WS to the Angels. He cares deeply about his legacy. It's why he opted to come to MLB early on a rookie deal instead of waiting and getting more money. At the rate he's going, he is making a case for the GOAT. Any player can go to a perennial contender like the dodgers and Astros and have a shot at the WS, but everyone knows that those teams had a shot even without them. Ohtani's legacy would receive a greater boost by bringing a team like the Angels, one everyone counts out, deep into the playoffs. The bat flip against the Yankees gave off that energy. That, screw you guys we'll show you, type of energy. 

I'm probably wrong, but those are the 2 scenarios I see.

[Angel Oracle]

If he leaves, sign Yamamoto, as a foreign FA, no lost draft pick.

 

[BTH]

17 minutes ago, VladdyforHOF said:

Personally I have a hunch that he does one of two things:

1. Stays here

2. Signs with Seattle

I’d be more upset about that than if he goes to the Dodgers.

[Angels 1961]

31 minutes ago, Angel Oracle said:

If he leaves, sign Yamamoto, as a foreign FA, no lost draft pick.

 

Maybe he wants win.

[Angels 1961]

31 minutes ago, Trendon said:

I’d be more upset about that than if he goes to the Dodgers.

I said before Seattle, very good rotation and young talent. All Star game fans were cheering him to come to Seattle. I also believe it will be less money than most people think.

[Jay]

The way I see it is (but obviously I could be completely wrong):

If it were #3 or #4, he would have already signed an extension. Announcing an extension would have provided a much-needed boost for the team and justified all the moves at the trade deadline. Instead, the Angels appear desperate to convince Ohtani that they want to win. Doesn't seem like a good way to show loyalty to the org. If he really wants to stay in Anaheim I see no reason to test FA other than to drive up the price (which implies #1).

That leaves us with #1 or #2.

[The Ghost of Bob Starr]

This is a “He Gone” of Hawk Harrelson proportions.  

[Vegas Halo Fan]

8 hours ago, Taylor said:

Time for Arte to STEP UP and lock up Ohtani.

I don't know that this is even possible. If Ohtani is sincere about his desire to win, and I have no reason to doubt his sincerity, the period after the trade deadline has to have killed any desire that he had to stay.