Ohtani inks record 1-year deal to avoid arbitration in '23

[Auggie]

ANAHEIM -- The Angels avoided arbitration with Shohei Ohtani on Saturday, as they signed the two-way star to a one-year deal worth $30 million for the 2023 season. Ohtani, the reigning AL MVP, remains set to be a free agent after next year.

Ohtani never went through arbitration with the Angels, as he also signed a two-year deal worth $8.5 million before the 2021 season. He looked headed toward a record-setting arbitration process this winter, but this agreement avoids that prospect. At $30 million, the deal sets a record for a player in his third year of arbitration, surpassing the $27 million Mookie Betts received before the 2020 season.

It’s a big jump in salary for Ohtani, who made $5.5 million this year and $3 million last year. The Angels, though, have several large salaries coming off the books, including Justin Upton’s $28 million, Noah Syndergaard’s $21 million and Michael Lorenzen’s $6.5 million. They also traded closer Raisel Iglesias, who had $51 million remaining on his deal. But it’s still going to be an interesting offseason for the Angels, as they have several holes to fill heading into next year but also have a possible impending change in ownership, as Arte Moreno indicated in late August that he’s exploring selling the team. It’s still unclear how that potential change in ownership will affect the club’s spending this offseason.

Ohtani, 28, is having another historic season and believes he’s been even better than last year, when he won the AL MVP Award unanimously. He’s in a race with Yankees slugger Aaron Judge for the AL MVP Award this season and also is in the conversation for the AL Cy Young Award as well.

https://www.mlb.com/news/shohei-ohtani-signs-one-year-30-million-deal