Some of baseball’s top stars hit the jackpot this offseason, landing huge free agent contracts.
Anyone who thought the market was crazy this year, just wait until 2023.
Shohei Ohtani will become a free agent after next season. The Los Angeles Angels two-way star may redefine what we think of as a huge contract.
The 28-year-old Ohtani put up incredible numbers this year at the plate (34 home runs, 145 OPS+) and on the mound (2.33 ERA, fourth in the Cy Young Award voting). He finished second behind Aaron Judge in the AL MVP race.
How do you value a player like that? The New York Post’s Jon Heyman talked to nine agents other than Ohtani’s. Their estimates on Ohtani’s expected deal are staggering. It is likely to eclipse the record 12-year, $426.5 million deal Ohtani’s current teammate, Mike Trout, signed with the Angels in 2019, possibly by $100 million or more, according to one estimate.
The lowest estimate is for $400 million, and that agent is low by a long shot. A couple of estimates are in the $450 million to $475 million range.
Several agents seemed to think $500 million sounds about right: “$500 million for 13/14 [years]— $250 million per position,” noted one agent.
Now for the truly mind-boggling figure.
“11 times 50 = $550 million,” estimated one agent. “Sounds crazy but he has the ability to consistently be a 9/10 WAR player.”
There you have it. Ohtani will cost a fortune. And the lucky winner in the Ohtani sweepstakes will conclude he’s worth every penny.
“Word is Ohtani will indeed shoot for $500 million-plus, and who would blame him?” Heyman concluded.
