“If you assume he’s going to pitch again in 2025 at the latest, it’s likely to be more than $500 million.”
Since Shohei Ohtani (29, LA Angels) announced his “pitching season out,” the biggest question in the U.S. media has been his price tag when he hits free agency in 2023-2024. It is assumed that Ohtani will undergo a second Tommy John surgery and will not be available in 2024.
This is why the media has been talking about $600 million and even $700 million. There are critics who say he won’t even get $500 million, and optimists who say he’ll still get $500 million. There’s even speculation that a bizarre option contract will be triggered in case of Ohtani’s health.
MLB.com ranked the 2023-2024 free agent market on Monday, and here are the top 10. Ohtani at No. 1 is a no-brainer. The potential suitors are the Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, and Seattle Mariners.
It’s the ransom that stands out. In the end, MLB.com believes that Ohtani’s value alone would surpass that of Aaron Judge (31, New York Yankees). Jersey signed a nine-year, $360 million contract in free agency in 2022-2023. But the slugger’s asking price, according to MLB.com, is 10 years and $400 million. That’s about $40 million per year, but he’ll probably get more in terms of years and total money anyway.
MLB.com writes, “Ohtani is the best player on the free agent market despite his elbow injury. It remains to be seen if he’ll return to the mound, but a favorable offensive profile alone should be enough to get him a deal in the 10-year, $400 million range, compared to the nine-year, $360 million deal Jersey, who is a year older than Ohtani, signed last year.”
MLB.com predicts it will still top $500 million. That would make major league history, surpassing Mike Trout’s (Los Angeles Angels) record-breaking 12-year, $426.5 million contract. 바카라
MLB.com writes, “While I’m sure many will take a hit with injuries, I expect Ohtani to be pitching again by 2025 at the latest. He’ll likely get more than $500 million.” The general consensus is that the injury will knock $600-700 million off his contract, but he’ll eventually get a $500 million-plus deal. This projection makes sense, as there is no way the A’s are going to give up on Idoru.
MLB.com’s rankings of the top 10 free agents are Cody Bellinger (Chicago Cubs), Matt Chapman (Toronto Blue Jays), Blake Snell, Josh Hader (San Diego Padres), Julio Urias (Los Angeles Dodgers), Aaron Nola (Philadelphia Phillies), Eduardo Rodriguez (Detroit Tigers), Lucas Giolito (Los Angeles Angels), and Jordan Montgomery (Texas Rangers). Pitching is also very strong.