ANGELS’ PRAYERS ANSWERED
COVETED JAPANESE FREE AGENT CHOOSES LOS ANGELES
Ohtani a two-way star who is a starting pitcher and lefthanded power hitter—
Shohei Ohtani has decided he’s on the side of the Angels. The Japanese two-way star announced Friday he will sign with the Los Angeles Angels, ending the sweepstakes surrounding his move to the majors in a surprising destination.
Ohtani turned down interest from every other big-league club to join two-time MVP Mike Trout and slugger Albert Pujols with the Angels, who are coming off their second consecutive losing season and haven’t won a playoff game since 2009.
But the Angels’ combination of a promising core and a beautiful West Coast location clearly appealed to the 23year-old Ohtani, who has confounded baseball experts at almost every step of his move to North America as one of the most coveted free agents in years.
Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo, issued a statement Friday announcing the decision. Balelo said the 2016 Japanese MVP “felt a true bond with the Angels. He sees this as the best environment to develop and reach the next level and attain his career goals.”
After his unusual courtship, Ohtani will attempt to chart an even more unique career path as the majors’ first regular twoway player in several decades. Ohtani already has drawn numerous comparisons to Babe Ruth, who excelled as a hitter and a pitcher early in his Hall of Fame career.
Ohtani is expected to be both a starting pitcher and a left-handed designated hitter for the Angels, who intend to give him ample playing time in both roles.
Many baseball observers have long assumed Ohtani would choose a higher-profile franchise such as the Yankees or Dodgers, who would have both welcomed him into their rotation and lineup. He received serious attention from Seattle and Texas, who both could have given him more money than the Angels.
Ohtani listened to final pitches from several teams in Los Angeles earlier this week before making his choice. The Angels play about 28 miles from downtown LA in laidback Orange County, where most of the Angels live in coastal Newport Beach and enjoy a comfortable, warmweather lifestyle with ample big-market media attention, but without the withering scrutiny of other top destinations.
But Angels general manager Billy Eppler is very serious about winning, and he has spent several years scouting Ohtani, ever since his previous job with the Yankees.
“We are honoured Shohei Ohtani has decided to join the Angels organization,” the franchise said in a brief statement. “We felt a unique connectivity with him throughout the process and are excited he will become an Angel. This is a special time for Angels fans.”
Ohtani will be formally introduced at a news conference later in the month.
Ohtani has ample opportunity to fulfil his biggest ambitions with the Angels, who are in need of a top starting pitcher. They should also be able to fit him into their lineup when he isn’t pitching: Pujols has largely been a designated hitter for the past two seasons, but the threetime NL MVP is expected to be healthy enough to play first base more frequently in 2018.
Ohtani was coveted by every team because of his exceptional pitching talent and powerful bat, but also because he represents an extraordinary bargain due to baseball’s rules around international players.
The Angels will have to pay the $20-million posting fee to Ohtani’s previous club, the Nippon Ham Fighters, but Ohtani will not be paid a huge salary for the next three seasons. Ohtani will sign a minor league contract and can receive up to $2,315,000 in international bonus money from the Angels.