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 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.