There have been some massive contracts signed in MLB this offseason, and they might simply just be the opening act for what comes next winter when Shohei Ohtani potentially hits the open market.
Baseball insider Jon Heyman spoke to several agents this week to try and gauge what Ohtani’s next deal might look like, and there is a belief that he is poised to become the first $500 million player in MLB history.
It is not hard to understand why his contract value could be so high.
He is not only the most unique and dominant player in baseball today, but he is also one of the most unique and dominant players we have ever seen as he is essentially two top-tier players in one uniform.
He is one of the league’s best starting pitchers, finishing fourth in the Cy Young voting this season, and is also one of the best power hitters in the league. There is nobody like him, and if he goes to the open market it could create a free agency pursuit the likes of which we have never seen. Not only because of what he can mean for a contender on the field but also in terms of marketing and ticket sales.
Any big market, big money team in the league would figure to be at the top of the list of potential suitors, from the Dodgers to the Chicago Cubs, to either of the New York teams. Mets owner Steve Cohen has already shown a willingness to spend a fortune on collecting top free agents, so there is little reason to believe he would not do it again next winter.
As Heyman notes, though, when Ohtani first came over to the United States he did not want to sign with bigger market teams. That might have changed over the past few years, however, as Ohtani has known nothing but losing with the Angels. He even remarked after this season how he had a negative impression of the year despite his individual success.
Along with a fourth-place Cy Young finish, he also finished second in the American League MVP voting (to New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge) after winning the award a year ago.
Ohtani is playing the 2023 season on a $30 million contract, which is the largest contract ever for an arbitration-eligible player. He will be a free agent after this season.
