Sports

BASEBALL | Shohei Ohtani, Angels Lock Up a $30 Million Deal for 2023

Ohtani's new one-year contract is the largest ever given to an arbitration-eligible MLB player, surpassing Mookie Betts' $27 million deal in 2020.

Published

2 years ago

October 3, 2022

Ed Odeven

Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani rounds second on a single hit by Taylor Ward during the first inning against the Texas Rangers in Anaheim, California, on October 2. (Ashley Landis/AP)

This article first appeared on SportsLook, JAPAN Forward’s dedicated sports website.

Shohei Ohtani is having another MVP-caliber season for the Los Angeles Angels, and the team has rewarded him for his significant contributions with a hefty pay raise for 2023.

Ohtani agreed to a $30 million USD (¥4.34 billion JPY) deal on Saturday, October 1, just days before the 2022 MLB regular season concludes.

The reigning American League MVP, who is set to become a free agent after the 2023 season, avoided a possible salary arbitration hearing by finalizing next year’s contractual terms with the ballclub.

Ohtani’s 2023 contract is the largest ever given to an arbitration-eligible MLB player, surpassing outfielder Mookie Betts’ $27 million deal with the Boston Red Sox in January 2020. He was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers that February.

Read the full story on SportsLook.

Author: Ed Odeven

Follow Ed on JAPAN Forward's [Japan Sports Notebook] here on Sundays, in [Odds and Evens] here during the week, and Twitter ＠ed_odeven, and find him on JAPAN Forward’s dedicated sports website, SportsLook.