For Shohei Ohtani, Will Lightning Strike Twice? Revisiting the People Over Payday Factor From His 2017 Free Agency

The two-way phenom is nothing short of an enigma. Agreed, that there is absolute awe in seeing him pitch and hit the way he does. However, there is little to no information on what drives his decisions. History might give a peek into how Shohei Ohtani functions. Don’t be shocked like in 2017! 

Looking back on his first free agency, the insightful context throws light on what could potentially hold true even after 6 years. While Sho-time was only 23 at that time, he made the crucial decision to step into the Los Angeles Angels, without batting an eyelid, even though he could have earned more elsewhere. What was the rationale behind this? Does that rationale still exist to date? 

What Does Shohei Ohtani Consider While Making Decisions? 

Ohtani’s decision to rule out the criteria of money from the equation is nothing new. Back when the NPB club, the Nippon Ham Fighters, posted the unicorn, he made a decision driven by the desire to achieve certain career goals. While there is definitely a business aspect to his decision, he was unfazed by it. All he cared about was which team he connected well with, and where he could nurture his strengths. With that, Ohtani agent Nez Balelo’s words come to mind. 

Balelo has explained what Ohtani prioritizes. One must mark these words even for future perspectives. He said, “While there has been much speculation about what would drive Shohei’s decision, what mattered to him most wasn’t market size, time zone or league but that he 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.” The Japanese star does not worry about money. 

Since then, it’s likely that Ohtani’s “career goals” have changed. His principal goal at the time was to make a smooth transition as a two-way player to the major leagues. Thankfully, the Angels were the ones to make that happen.

Now that he has grown to wear multiple feathers on his hat, Shohei might want to sign with a team that is more competitive in order to improve his chances of making the playoffs. In any case, the conversation, this time around too, about location and market size seems equally pointless. He is expected to follow his instincts, just like he did 6 years ago. 

How Did He Enter MLB?

Ohtani forewent $200 million by departing Japan at that time. The Angels then gave him the largest signing bonus possible, $2.315 million. That was his MLB’s standard pay for the first six seasons. It’s extremely unconventional that Ohtani chose to pass up such a large salary because he believed he was ready for the biggest stage. If that’s the logic he applies this year too, it would not come as an immense surprise. 

Read More: Amidst Widespread Shohei Ohtani Interest, Japanese Baseball Personality Signals Angels’ Advantage in $500M Race

Ohtani is probably going to take home a record-breaking sum of money this time. The average yearly value might be close to $50 million. Assuming he does not desire numerous opt-outs, the contract is expected to last well into the upcoming ten years. 

Watch This Story: Shohei Ohtani’s Two-Way Dream: Before Injury, He Always Wanted Both!