Ohtani mum on free agent future
TEMPE, Ariz. — Los Angeles Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani pulled up with his interpreter in his on Porsche Thursday morning, entered the clubhouse to put on his uniform, walked down the pathway towards the minor-league practice fields, plopped down at a makeshift stage in front of about 50 reporters and camera crews, spoke for 15 minutes to English-speaking reporters, and another 15 minutes to Japanesespeaking reporters, and said for all of the world to hear:
Well, nothing.
He provided absolutely zero hints on his future.
He has not had any talks with the Angels about a contract extension before becoming a free agent in November.
He wouldn’t say whether he was even interested in an extension.
He declined to say whether he was looking forward to free agency.
He did speak Wednesday with Angels owner Arte Moreno, but said there was nothing in-depth about the conversation.
The greatest two-way talent in the game’s history brought a whole new meaning to cautiousness.
“I’m really not thinking about free agency right now,” Ohtani said. “As of now, I’m an Angel. And that’s what I want to focus on.”
He was directly asked if he believed the Angels were committed to winning as much as he is considering the Angels have not reached the postseason in his five-year career, let alone even had a winning season.
“I do firmly believe that the Angels are on the same page as me,” Ohtani said. “They want to win as much as I do.”
He paused, and then said: “But I mean, I can’t tell you what they really are thinking, but I would like to believe that.”
It’s hard to find anyone outside the Angels organization who believes he will stay. And it really isn’t so much about money.
The greatest athletes in history are judged by their championship rings.
Even if he wants no part of the New York lifestyle, preferring tranquility and anonymity as much as possible, let’s face it: The Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants and the Seattle Mariners certainly have a greater chance to win a World Series before the Angels.
The Ohtani suitors out West are all willing to pay whatever he desires, whether it’s $400 million, $450 million or $500 million, but most importantly — a chance to be on a perennial winner for the remainder of his career.
“He’s a lot like Mike (Trout), driven by winning first,” Angels manager Phil Nevin told USA TODAY Sports. “Every conversation he has with us, his teammates, media, fans, he wants to win in a bad way.
“I’ve been around some great ones, most recently Judgy (New York Yankees star) Aaron Judge, and they’re the same way. The reps they take, the words they speak, it’s all about winning baseball games. They want to be a champion.
“There are a lot of words and adjectives used to describe both of them, the best players in the world, etc.… and they don’t want to leave this game with, ‘Yeah, they were the best, but they never won one.’
“They want to win in a bad, bad way.” Trout believes the best way to keep Ohtani is for the Angels to reach the playoffs, but if that’s truly the case, Ohtani wasn’t biting.
He simply says this is their best offseason of acquisitions since he arrived, helping reach his goal of winning a championship.
“That’s what I’m focused on,” Ohtani says, “not free agency.”
Ohtani was so measured in his answers that although the World Baseball Classic is national headline news in Japan, he downplayed its importance, not to offend anyone in the United States.
“I feel like it’s a complete different category,” Ohtani says, “as the World Series or the Olympics.”
Ohtani will pitch one spring-training game March 1 for the Angels against the Milwaukee Brewers at Tempe Diablo Stadium before departing for Japan that evening to join his WBC team.
He’ll spend perhaps the next three weeks pitching for Team Japan, and when he returns, his next marquee start will be Opening Day for the Angels on March 30 against the Oakland A’s.
It’s hard to fathom Ohtani, 30, having even a greater season than a year ago, hitting 34 homers with 95 RBI and a .875 OPS at the plate, while going 15-9 with a 2.33 ERA on the mound.
Just don’t try telling Ohtani, who believes the best is yet to come.
He arrived to camp 15 pounds heavier than a year ago, all muscle from his extensive physical training this winter, and hopes to be a greater all-around hitter and more durable pitcher. The Angels used a six-man rotation last season, limiting Ohtani to 28 games and 166 innings, but this season plan to pitch Ohtani every fifth day.
Ohtani has his sights set on not only being the best player now, but perhaps the best to ever wear a baseball uniform.
“That’s just his DNA, he always wants to get better,” Nevin said. “He’s a perfectionist. You watch his daily routine, his regiment, it’s all about being the best one out there. He’s very serious about his work, and a lot of that carries over to his life for sure.”
Just where he’ll be spending the rest of his baseball life after this season remains to be seen. Go ahead, keep on predicting. Keep on speculating. Keep on guessing.
Just don’t expect Ohtani to offer the slightest clue.