Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
It’s no secret that Shohei Ohtani’s immediate future with the Los Angeles Angels will be the hot topic of conversation as spring training gets underway. While the Angels and general manager Perry Minasian have tried to shut down any potential trade rumors regarding the elite star pitcher/designated hitter, that hasn’t stopped those from speculating that Ohtani could be due for a huge payday this offseason.
The 28-year-old two-way player is set to be a free agent following the completion of the 2023 season. While Minasian, according to Sam Blum of The Athletic, said at the start of the GM meetings in November, that the Angels wouldn’t trade Ohtani this offseason — they didn’t — that doesn’t mean the Angels have had any “deep” conversations regarding the Japanese star’s future with the franchise.
In fact, according to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register, Ohtani said on Thursday that he hasn’t had any “deep” conversations with the Angels regarding his future, Ohtani also said that he’s not currently focused on the future right now.
While Ohtani didn’t have any “deep talks” with the Angels, he did exchange pleasantries with owner Arte Moreno.
“It’s business as usual. Nothing’s really changed,” Ohtani said regarding his future with the Angels organization. “Just want to focus on the season and focus on winning a championship.”
Blum of The Athletic asked Ohtani multiple times Thursday if the elite two-way player would be open to signing a contract extension with the Angels, but he wouldn’t commit to an exact answer. At this moment, Ohtani is unsure if his agent has spoken with the Angels regarding a possible extension.
“As of now, I’m an Angel,” Ohtani said, per Blum. “And that’s what I want to focus on.”
While the Angels announced that Ohtani would be the team’s Opening Day starter for the sixth consecutive season on Thursday, that’s about all the promises they’ve made regarding his future with the team. While that could certainly change at any instance, Monreo recently announced that he took the franchise off the market, which makes it increasingly more likely that Ohtani will test free agency after the season.
That could potentially be music to Mets owner Steve Cohen’s ears.
Jon Heyman of The New York Post recently wrote an article that detailed the Mets expected pursuit of Ohtani. One Mets person spoke about the assumption that Ohtani would become a free agent to the Post: “The Mets will make Ohtani the best-paid player in the history of sports — whether he plays for the Mets or not — because the offer will be insane. And if someone else wants to beat it, go ahead.”
Ohtani’s comments on Thursday are about as good of an indication as where things currently stand with the Angels. Though, right now, he’s not focused on what happens beyond the 2023 season, as he looks to replicate a fantastic 2022 campaign, in which he hit 273/.356/.519 with 34 homers, 95 RBI, 11 stolen bases and 30 doubles in 2022 and posted a 2.33 ERA in 26 starts.
