Shohei Ohtani is the biggest prize on the free-agent market this offseason. Nobody is certain what type of contract he’ll sign, though.
Thanks to his UCL injury in September, Ohtani is not expected to pitch in 2024. But he intends to pitch in 2025 when he’s fully healed. But, with two elbow reconstructions in five years, teams are probably wondering how much longer he’ll be able to do both.
Aug 29, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) looks on before the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN came up with five potential contract frameworks for Ohtani and linked a team to each of those frameworks. The Texas Rangers were tied to a contract called “high price, high incentives.”
His deal is unique in the Majors. At a minimum, it’s a 12-year, $219.3 million deal. But, depending on incentives, it could max out as high as $469.3 million over 17 years.
ESPN speculated it’s the type of deal Ohtani and the Rangers could agree on, and the outlet believes the Rangers are in a position to make it happen.
ESPN’s example is a deal that starts with $250 million for the first five years, making Ohtani the game’s first $50 million per year player. His production, along with MVP and Cy Young votes, could trigger the remaining five years at a potential low of $150 million and a high of $300 million.
The World Series champions will be paying Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, and Jacob deGrom as much as $277 million from 2026 to 2028 and have several promising young position players on track to be making big money by then, too. They could use some protection on the back half of a long-term deal, given that they’d probably like to continue to be aggressive. Their resources are not infinite.
If Ohtani returns to form, the Rangers would be getting a player who has two MVP awards, including the one he won earlier this month.
Ohtani finished 2023 with a slash line of .304/.412/.654/1.066 with 44 home runs and 95 RBI, with his homers leading the American League. As a pitcher, he went 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA with 167 strikeouts and 55 walks.
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