Los Angeles Angels two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani deserves a $500 million contract in free agency next winter, says 2004 World Series MVP Manny Ramirez.
'I think Shohei Ohtani is worth $500 million,' the 50-year-old Ramirez told radio station Z101 in his native Dominican Republic. 'He's a phenomenon never seen before in the MLB history. He can do it all.'
The former Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox star's math is fairly straightforward: Ohtani deserves to be paid like one of baseball's best pitchers and one of its best hitters.
'I would pay him $250 million for what he can do as a pitcher and the other $250 million for his quality as a hitter.' Ramirez said.
Ohtani is predicted by several league insiders to be paid around $500 million after the upcoming season. ESPN reported a one former player-turned-analyst thinks he can earn between $45 million and $50 million a year over an eight-year contract. Meanwhile, an agent told ESPN that Ohtani's deal would be in the ballpark of 10 years and $430 million, which would exceed Aaron Judge's average annual salary of $40 million per year.
Another executive told ESPN that a 12-year, $480 million contract is within reason.
The Angels have already stated they have no intention of trading Ohtani before he becomes a free agent.
MLB's largest total contracts:
1. Angels CF Mike Trout: $426.5m
2. Dodgers RF Mookie Betts: $365m
3. Yankees RF Aaron Judge: $360m
4. Mets SS Francisco Lindor: $341m
5. Padres SS Fernando Tatis Jr.: $34m
MLB's highest average annual salaries:
1. Mets P Max Scherzer: $43.3m
1. Mets P Justin Verlander: $43.3m
3. Yankees RF Aaron Judge: $40m
4. Rangers P Jacob deGrom: $37m
5. Yankees P Gerrit Cole: $36m
Ohtani's teammate, Mike Trout, currently has baseball's largest contract, at 12 years, $426 million. Meanwhile New York Mets pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander have the highest average annual salaries at $43.3million.
In October, Ohtani agreed to a $30 million deal with the Angels for the 2023 season in his final year of arbitration eligibility before free agency.
Ohtani's deal is fully guaranteed, with no other provisions. The deal is the largest one-year contract ever given to an arbitration-eligible player, surpassing the $27 million given to Mookie Betts by the Boston Red Sox in January 2020, a month before he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Ohtani's $24.5 million raise from his 2022 salary is by far the largest for an arbitration-eligible player in major league history. He shattered the previous record of $9.6 million set by Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets when his pay was bumped from $7.4 million to $17 million before the 2019 season.
In an interview at Tokyo's Haneda Airport back in October, Ohtani said it was 'a good season for me personally.' Not so good for the Angels, though.
Without solid support for former AL MVPs Ohtani and Mike Trout, the Angels suffered a seventh consecutive losing season, and missed the playoffs for an eighth consecutive year.
'I have to say that August and September in particular felt longer to me than last year,' Ohtani said, speaking in Japanese. 'We were not able to play as many good games as we would like — including 14 consecutive losses. So I have a rather negative impression of this season.'
The Angels finished 73-89 and were 33 games behind the Houston Astros in the American League West.
The Angels last made the playoffs in 2014. Ohtani joined in 2018, leaving one of baseball's biggest stars on the sidelines for the game's biggest stage.
Ohtani was 15-9 with a 2.33 ERA as a pitcher. As a batter he hit 34 home runs, had 95 RBIs and hit .273.
He was asked about the possibility of being the American League MVP again.
'I'm just happy to be considered as a candidate,' he said.
Ohtani has already picked up an armful of awards. He was the AL MVP last year. Last season, he was also presented a special award — the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award — by Commissioner Rob Manfred to recognize his two-way play.
He was open to playing for Japan in next year's World Baseball Classic, which takes place before the MLB season.
'Many top-class Major League players from the United States and Latin America have announced their participation,' Ohtani said. 'Participating in this tournament is very appealing to me. I have that kind of feeling.'
