Angels, Ohtani avoid arbitration with record 1-year, $30M deal
The Los Angeles Angels and two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani agreed to a one-year, $30-million contract for 2023 to avoid arbitration, the club announced Saturday.
Ohtani, who's still eligible to become a free agent after next season, will receive the largest salary ever for an arbitration-eligible player. He's earning $5.5 million for the 2022 campaign.
The $30-million contract for #Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani is a record for an arbitration-eligible player, $3 million above Mookie Betts. It also puts Ohtani in the top 10 as of now 2023 salary and AAV.
— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) October 1, 2022
The two-time All-Star's $24.5-million raise also shatters the $9.6-million increase New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom received in November 2019.
Ohtani is putting together another unprecedented season after capturing AL MVP honors in 2021. The 28-year-old has gone deep 34 times with 94 RBIs and an .888 OPS over 152 games. The Japanese sensation has been even better on the mound, accruing a 2.35 ERA with 213 strikeouts over 161 innings (27 starts).
The trio of Ohtani, Mike Trout, and Anthony Rendon will earn a combined $103.45 million in 2023. Los Angeles has missed the playoffs for an eighth consecutive season.
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