The free agent price of Shohei Ohtani (29, LA Angels), who ended the season as a pitcher due to an elbow injury, is in full swing in the US. Even the prospect of 500 million dollars (approximately 662 billion won), which was considered the minimum amount, was unclear. However, for the Los Angeles Angels, this injury was rather a good thing.먹튀검증
On the 25th (Korean time), MLB.com, the official homepage of Major League Baseball, paid attention to this winter, saying, “This injury can attract more teams before Ohtani is recruited.”
The day before (24th), the Los Angeles Angels officially announced that Shohei Ohtani would not be able to pitch for the remainder of the season due to a ruptured medial collateral ligament in his right elbow right after the double header ended with the Cincinnati Reds. Depending on the degree, the area requires elbow ligament joint surgery (Tommy John surgery), and in the worst case, pitcher Ohtani will not be seen in 2024.
Whether or not to undergo surgery has yet to be decided, but according to a report by ESPN, an American media outlet, Ohtani will continue to appear at bat as a designated hitter for at least this season. But the bigger problem is FA. After advancing to the major leagues in 2018, Ohtani fills the required number of days until free agency, and will enter the market after the end of this season.
Ohtani, who has been pitching and hitting since his first year in the major leagues, has emerged as the best free agent candidate after winning the American League (AL) MVP unanimously in the 2021 season. Last season, he ranked 2nd in MVP, and this season as a hitter, batting average 0.304, 44 homers, 91 RBIs, 97 runs scored, 17 stolen bases, on-base percentage 0.405, 0.664 slugging percentage, OPS 1.069, as a pitcher, 23 games 10-5, ERA 3.14, 132 innings, 66 walks, 167 With a strikeout record, the second MVP award became influential.
Naturally, Ohtani’s ransom soared to the ceiling, with estimates ranging from at least $500 million to $700 million. It was an amount based on the expectation that he would be the first starter as a pitcher and MVP-level performance as a hitter. However, with this injury, as he received his second Tommy John surgery since October 2018, and his performance as a pitcher became unclear, the major league clubs that were aiming for him also changed.
MLB.com introduced the changed market atmosphere through an anonymous interview with the heads of each major league club. “Ohtani’s free agent market is difficult to predict now,” said one National League executive, and another National League executive said, “Ohtani is still a great hitter and could play out of the bullpen, but his value and something special is this. Injuries will take a huge hit,” he said. “I think it has a real impact on Ohtani’s potential contract,” an American League executive said. “Two Tommy John surgeries are common these days, but we won’t have him pitching until 2025.”
Tommy John surgery has become a routine event for fastball pitchers, but the two surgeries tell a different story. MLB.com said, “Many pitchers including Nathan Eovaldi, Jameson Tyyon and Mike Clevinger have returned from two Tommy John surgeries, but it takes a bit of hope to say with confidence that Ohtani will perform as well on the mound as before. “he said. As a result, it is known that some decision makers have created public opinion that the possibility of Ohtani receiving at least 500 million dollars has become slim. However, the lowered amount rather became an opportunity for many teams to jump into the race to recruit Ohtani.
MLB.com said, “There were a limited number of teams that could offer Ohtani an astronomical contract. Most baseball fans guessed the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, and Los Angeles Angels.” Now, the size of the contract will have decreased. Considering the marketing effect, more teams will dream of signing Ohtani. All teams can pay 500 million dollars, but 250 million dollars (about 331 billion won), 3 If it’s a billion dollars (about 397.2 billion won), more buyers can be added. Even if Ohtani doesn’t throw, every team will want to sign him.”
The Los Angeles Angels, which were evaluated as having little chance of catching them, can now have hope again. The reason is that it is a team that is familiar with him and will definitely guarantee a double job.
MLB.com said, “Ohtani’s injury has created a minimal chance for the Los Angeles Angels to catch him. Ohtani will want to return to pitching at some point even if he undergoes Tommy John surgery, and the Los Angeles Angels will be familiar with him, stable and predictable.” “The Los Angeles Angels will desperately want to hold on to Ohtani, so there’s a little bit of a chance,” he said.