Shohei Ohtani Potential Contract Compared to Others in MLB

Shohei Ohtani Potential Contract has been compared to others in MLB.

 

 

Newsonline understands that with the 2022 MLB season still underway, fans can be excited about a lot from the two New York team’s success, the busy trade deadline, Aaron Judge chasing 60+ home runs, and star players shining. One of those players who is often mentioned amongst the latest MLB picks is Los Angeles player Shohei Ohtani. 

 

 

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When it comes to his next contract, he will be due plenty of money and word has it that he could ask for $50 million a year which would make him the highest-paid player ever. Whether it is with the Angels or another team, someone will pay him.

Why He Deserves This Money

 

After five great seasons in the league, Shohei Ohtani has proved he is a rare two-way talent who not only is a good hitter and fielder but an All-Star caliber pitcher. In the middle of another potential MVP season, Ohtani continues to hit incredible milestones and is doing things many players haven’t done in 20+ years in both pitching and hitting categories. His list of achievements goes on and on.

 

Ohtani’s most recent achievement of 10 home runs and 10 wins in the same season, which hasn’t been done since Babe Ruth 102 years ago. Along with that he also passed Japanese icon, Ichiro Suzuki, on the list of most home runs by a Japanese player with 118 and now is just 57 behind leader Hideki Matsui. 

 

Currently, Ohtani has 25 home runs and 10 wins as a pitcher and after last year’s unanimously voted MVP, could earn plenty of votes for this year’s voting with many MLB predictions considering him one of the top choices. If Shohei Ohtani truly asks for $50 million a year, it will be more than deserving.

How This Compares to Other Players

 

According to Forbes, MLB salaries have totaled over $4 billion in each of the past five seasons since 2016, not including 2020. The current highest-paid player is Shohei Ohtani’s teammate, Mike Trout who is worth $35 million a year and signed his extension in March 2019. The $426.5 million over 12 years contract was over $100 million higher than Bryce Harper’s deal which was the top paid at the time. 

 

Followed by Trout on the list of highest-paid players is another outfielder and another Los Angeles resident Mookie Betts who signed his $365 million, 12-year deal in 2020 after being traded from the Boston Red Sox to the Los Angeles Dodgers. This contract earns him $30 million a year and included a record-breaking signing bonus of $65 million. Although he is third on the list for biggest contracts, New York Mets outfielder Francisco Lindor earns more per year than Betts with his $341 million, 10-year contract which earns him $34 million per year which was signed in 2021.

 

The first pitcher to show up on the list of highest paid players is New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole who signed his $324 million, 9-year deal in 2020. Although he is eighth on the list, the Yankees pitcher earns $36 million a year which is the most by any player. With $36 million a year for a pitcher and $35 million from a player like Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani will have a chance to pass them by at least $15 million or more depending on the asking price.

Final Thoughts

 

Although this contract discussion is still roughly 2 years out, the contract of Shohei Ohtani will be in discussion until the dotted line is signed. With the most recently rumored asking price of $50 million per year, the two-way All-Star continues and will likely keep continuing to prove he deserves that much. A talent like Ohtani is great for the Angels or whatever team ends up signing him by that time and is also great for baseball for MLB and internationally. 

Jon Heyman of the New York Post said it best, “considering his amazing achievements, he deserves to be the game’s best-paid player, as the sport’s true triple threat (hitting, pitching, marketing)”. Whether it is with the Angels or another MLB team, Ohtani will certainly be featured in many future World Series predictions and likely the league’s highest-paid and first-time $50 million a year player.