Ohtani’s focus on chasing trophies
The biggest takeaway from covering the final three games of the World Baseball Classic last season was how thrilled Shohei Ohtani was to lead Japan to the championship.
After striking out Mike Trout with an unholy slider to end the championship game, Ohtani flung his glove in the air, followed by his cap, and hugged his teammates. His genuine happiness was evident an hour later when he conducted a news conference.
“This is the best moment in my life,” Ohtani said.
The next goal is winning the World Series, something Ohtani made much easier for the Dodgers with how he structured his 10-year, $700 million contract.
By deferring $680 million for 10 years, Ohtani reduced the luxury tax hit to $46 million. He will be paid $2 million a year from 2024-33, then $68 million a year from 2034-43.
MLB calculates luxury tax payrolls based on present-day value. So Ohtani’s percentage of the luxury tax payroll, while a record, isn’t much more than Max Scherzer ($43.3 million), Justin Verlander ($43,3 million), or Aaron Judge ($40 million).
Ohtani and agent Nez Balelo told teams this was the structure they wanted. They also negotiated an out clause with the Dodgers that would allow Ohtani to become a free agent if Mark Walter sells the team or president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman leaves the organization.
“I feel like if one of them are gone . . . things might get a little out of control. So I just wanted like a safety net,” Ohtani said via a translator during his introductory news conference at Dodger Stadium.
In essence, Ohtani wants to make sure he is part of a championship-driven organization after spending six seasons with the Angels without getting into a playoff game or finishing higher than third place.
“I want to win championships,” Ohtani said. “I want when people look back at the championships I won, I want people to know or think that I was a core member, and I was a big deal, or I was a big part of that championshipwinning team.”
Ohtani will not suffer financially. Endorsements will bring his annual income well beyond what most players make. But he did leave money on the table as he will not collect interest on the deferred payments.
Until the news conference, Ohtani had not taken questions since Aug. 9.
Ohtani played by his own rules as a member of the Angels, deciding when and where he would take batting practice and how often he would speak to reporters. Ohtani spoke only after games he pitched, regardless of how he performed at the plate in other games. He also routinely refused routine interview requests other players regularly grant and skipped out on team events for fans and sponsors.
In Anaheim, Trout has been more concerned about his injuries in recent seasons. But Ohtani putting himself above the team likely wouldn’t play well with the Dodgers and a roster that includes Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, and other All-Stars who already have rings.
“We didn’t have that conversation. I think that it’s a conversation that should be had,” said Dave Roberts, who has fostered good clubhouse chemistry in his eight seasons as manager.
“I think [Ohtani] and [the team] have to figure out what’s best for himself, but also baseball. I don’t know the right answer. My hope is that we get to have that conversation.”
Extra bases
Phillies manager Rob Thomson couldn’t bring himself to watch the World Series after his team blew a 3-2 lead in the NLCS against the Diamondbacks by losing two home games. “Not a pitch,” Thomson said. “It was [too painful]. I’m still upset about it, to tell you the truth.” . . . There have been two significant injuries in winter ball. Mets third baseman Ronny Mauricio, who was in line to compete for a starting job in spring training, tore a ligament in his right knee taking an aggressive lead off first base in a Dominican League game. He’ll be out 6-9 months. Pirates catcher Endy Rodriguez somehow tore an elbow ligament and a flexor tendon taking a swing in the Dominican Republic and will miss the 2024 season . . . These are troubled times for the Giants, who made highly competitive offers to Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge, and most recently Ohtani only to be turned down. The one star player who accepted, Carlos Correa, failed his physical and ended up with the Twins in 2022. It’s not the money, as the Giants offered Ohtani as much as the Dodgers did. It’s certainly not Oracle Park, which is beautiful. In talking to agents, there is a clear concern among players about San Francisco’s image of being crime-ridden and dangerous. The Giants were able to sign Korean outfielder Jung Hoo Lee for six years and $113 million. That was twice what was generally projected . . . Juan Soto on playing with Judge: “It’s going to be fun, really fun, to see him play, hitting and playing outfield [and] trying to pick his mind while I’m there.” Soto made several “while I’m there” references during his news conference, underlining the idea that his stay in New York will last only until he becomes a free agent after next season. He also knocked down the idea that Yankee Stadium’s short porch in right field would play to his strengths as a lefthanded hitter. Soto plans to stay with his oppositefield approach. “There’s no reason to change it.” he said. “I think I’m going to try to do the same thing, and if I get a chance to pull any ball and hit it that way, that’s fine.” . . . There are always a lot of Red Sox fans in Toronto. They’ll see a new-look Rogers Centre next season. The latest round of renovations included tearing out the lower seating bowl and rebuilding it with less foul territory, more comfortable seats, and better sightlines . . . The St. Petersburg (Fla.) City Council has apparently solved all the problems in the city. It spent time Thursday debating whether to ask the Rays to become the St. Petersburg Rays and passed a resolution to seek options to change the name. Rays executive Brian Auld shot that down, saying a name change could threaten the team’s new ballpark deal . . . Worcester Academy righthander Mavrick Rizy broke his commitment to UConn and is headed to LSU, one of the rare times a Massachusetts high school player has selected an SEC school other than Vanderbilt. The 6-foot-9-inch Rizy is considered the best high school prospect in New England. Vanderbilt did land Jacob Humphrey, an outfielder from Maine who played two years at UMass Lowell before entering the transfer portal. Humphrey was 79 for 85 on stolen bases and hit 11 homers for the River Hawks . . . Lefthanded reliever Will Smith won a World Series ring with the Braves (2021), Astros (2022), and Rangers (2023). His streak will be tested now that he has signed with the Royals, although Smith could be traded to a contender during the season . . . Looking for a gift? Go to bostonkmen.org and check out the Fenway Park T-shirts. All proceeds will support The Base, the Roxbury-based nonprofit that uses baseball to help create academic and athletic opportunities for urban kids . . . Happy birthday to Bob Ojeda, who is 66. The lefthander was 44-39 with a 4.21 earned run average for the Red Sox from 1980-85. He was traded to the Mets before the 1986 season as part of an eight-player deal and promptly had his best season, going 18-5 with a 2.57 ERA and finishing fourth in the NL Cy Young voting. The Mets won all four playoff games Ojeda started, including Games 3 and 6 of the World Series against the Sox. Ojeda retired after the ’94 season. His jobs since included being the pitching coach of the independent Worcester Tornadoes from 2005-06 under manager Rich Gedman, his former Red Sox teammate.