“He’s one of a kind,” LA Angels owner Arte Moreno faces Shohei Ohtani retaining challenge with long playoff drought looming

Follow us

Share

Shohei Ohtani is one of the best players from Japan to grace the field in Major League Baseball (MLB). His preserverance and determination to play have made him one of the biggest prospects in the league and a star for the Los Angeles Angels.

Angels owner Arte Moreno has never shied away from publicly praising Ohatni for his skills and talents. Through his recent statements, Moreno did have some encouraging words to spare for the team players and fans.

One of the biggest priorities for the Angels has been to retain Ohtani, despite the prolonged drought that the team had to see in this long playoff season. Through his remarks, Moreno makes it imminent that Ohtani is an essential asset for the Angels, and his value can never be compromised.

Speaking to New York Post, Moreno said, “I’d like to keep Ohtani. He’s one of a kind, He’s a great person. He’s obviously one of the most popular baseball players in the world, and he’s an international star. He’s a great teammate. He works hard. He’s a funny guy, and he has a really good rapport with fans.”

Related: Aaron Judge Yankees labeled as “easiest” by Blue Jays superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Shohei Ohtani’s position with the LA Angels cannot be compromised

Ohtani has signed a historic deal with the Angels, marking it as the largest salary ever for an arbitration-eligible player. He has surpassed Mookie Bett’s $27 million deal for the 2020 season, which was later shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ohtani will get a $24 million raise which is also one of the largest ever from one year to the next. In 2022, Ohtani was earning $5.5 million. Shohei is one of the bests to come out of Japan, often people dubbing him the Japanese Babe Ruth.

Now that Ohtani has signed the above deal making him stay for 2023, the financial repercussions for making him stay for longer seasons will be quite a challenge for the Angels. Putting this in perspective, Moreno says, “Economically, we’re usually in the top 10, so it’s not out of the question. I’d like to say we have as good a chance as anybody.”

While Angels owner Moreno might extend his hearty confidence for Ohtani retaining to stay with the Angels, the rival organizations and franchises do not agree. According to Jon Heyman, some view an extension by Ohtani as ‘next to impossible.’

Some parties believe that a deal of no less than $500 million or more would come into the foray, depending on the number of teams willing to bid. While this might be a tremendous amount of money to commit, Shohei Ohtani makes up for the value with his on-field performance and the several off-field promotional opportunities.

While Ohtani’s talents are a valuable asset for the Angels, he is never off the eyes of potential franchises such as the Meds, Dodgers, or Padres, who are always looking to get the services of the Japanese player.

Shohei Ohtani has built excellent brand value and credibility for himself by being one of the foremost players in the league, both on and off the field.

In case you missed it:

“I’m glad [Judge] made the right decision,” Darryl Strawberry commends Aaron Judge for choosing the Yankees over West Coast teams

Chicago White Sox pitcher Mike Clevinger accused of domestic violence, MLB pursues investigation