CHICAGO ( Associated Press) — Everyone will watch Shohei Ohtani’s number there until it’s done. It’s not about the number of home runs he’s hit, strikeouts, or any of his other awesome on-field statistics.
You should rather see how much the other person is contracted.
Ohtani is among several players starting the final season before entering free agency. There is still time for interviews and press conferences before the season opener, but history shows that signing a new deal is more likely to happen than during the campaign.
There is no precedent for assigning value to Ohtani’s outstanding talents, much less the clubs’ massive spending spree. And that doesn’t take into account the potential business opportunities that come with Major League Baseball being the only truly global star.
Ohtani hit .273 with 34 homers and 95 RBIS last season, fifth with Los Angeles. The Japanese, the American League Most Valuable Player in 2021, also had a 15-9 record and a 2.33 ERA in 28 starts.
He prepared for the upcoming campaign by leading Japan to the Baseball Classic title. Mike Trout, the other star of the Angels, hit from the last, which the Japanese team won 3-2 over the American team.
Ohtani, who turns 29 in July, could set several records with his next contract, which could reach an average annual value of $45 million and reach a maximum value of $500 million.
If the Angels just miss the playoffs in the AL West, Ohtani’s name could be on the market this summer. If the club is fighting for a release, the pressure will mount to reach an agreement before losing Ohtani in free agency for only one compensatory draft pick.
So the stakes are definitely high for Ohtani and Angel.
Here are five other players entering free agency after this season.
AARON NOLA, PHILADELPHIA
He turned 30 in June and went 11-13 with a 3.25 ERA in 32 starts with the Phillies last year. He also threw out a career-high 235 strikeouts over 205 innings for the National League champions.
Nola was drafted by the Phillies with the seventh overall pick in the 2014 amateur draft, there were talks about a contract extension in the preseason, but no deal resulted.
“We’re very excited to try to sign him late in the season,” said Dave Dombrowski, president of baseball operations. “We hope that he will remain with Fili for a long time.”
MATTHEW CHAPMAN, TORONTO 3rd baseman
He hit 36 home runs and drove in 91 runs for Oakland in 2019. He couldn’t match that output, but the three-time Gold Glove winner had 27 home runs and 76 RBIs in 155 games last year, his first. at the Blue Jays.
Chapman turns 30 on April 28. Scott Boras, who often takes his clients to free agency, represents this third baseman as the best in the majors when it comes to hitting.
TEOSCAR HERNANDEZ, Seattle Gardener.
The Dominican was acquired in November in a trade with Toronto. He hit .267 with 25 home runs and 77 RBIs in his senior year with the Blue Jays.
2021 was terrific, hitting .296 with 32 home runs, 116 RBIs and an .870 OPS.
A change of scenery could help the 30-year-old player to establish himself with a better salary. He hit .357 with three homers and seven RBIs in 16 games at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
IAN HAPP, CHICAGO CUBS Outfield
Switching players from maybe his time in the majors. He posted career highs with a .271 average, 72 RBIs and 42 doubles in 158 games.
He also won his first Gold Glove and made his first National League All-Star team.
Chicago had run into problems renewing contracts with players in recent years. However, he agreed to a three-year, $35 million deal with infielder Nico Hoerner on Monday.
Happ, 28, a first-round pick in the 2015 amateur draft, is an executive on the players’ combine subcommittee.
JULIO URIA, used to be a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers
The Mexican, who turns 27 in August, would make many teams if he made it to the free agent market. He had a 17-7 record with an NL-best 2.16 ERA in 31 starts for the Western Division Monarchs in 2022.
He finished third in the Cy Young standings at the old circuit. And the season before, he went 10-3 with a 2.96 ERA.
Urias is also a client of Boras, but the Dodgers have one of the most valuable salarymen.
The Dodgers could go around Ohtani, who could affect the deal with Urias.
___ Jay Cohen Twitter at https://twitter.com/jcohenap . it is
