2017 vs 2023: Inside Shohei Ohtani’s Shifting Priorities For His Next Deal

If there is one name that shines brighter than ever in the present-day baseball world, it is Shohei Ohtani. The man with multiple rightfully earned monikers is the one whose legacy is currently in the making. Though he is an extremely private person and not much is known about his personal life, it is worth looking at his journey to MLB and to becoming the star that he is today. Especially 2017, the year in which Ohtani took some tough decisions that may pave his way through 2024 as well. 

It is sure that over time, one learns and grows; the same applies to Ohtani as well. Well, amid speculating what his priorities for his next deal would be, it is worth diving deep into what his initial days’ story was which led him to what he is today. Also, what is the driving force behind the majestic player that MLB is graced with? 

Shohei Ohtani: Journey From an Unknown Star of Japan to an MLB Wonder

Well, Ohtani started his baseball career playing for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of the Pacific League of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). This was prior to signing with the Major Leagues. He was the first pick of the Fighters in the 2012 draft. As he played an outfielder and pitcher in the NPB from 2013 to 2017, his ability started getting noticed.

Ohtani then went on to set a record for the fastest pitch in NPB history in October 2016, hitting 165 km/h equivalent to 102.5 mph. The Fighters then posted Ohtani to MLB after his 2017 season and the Los Angeles Angels signed him. With that began his stellar big-league journey. 

Soon after his entry into major league baseball, he became the American League Rookie of the Year in 2018. The AL Most Valuable Player followed this feat in 2021. Since his posting, the Japanese star’s performance only gained more momentum. One of his major milestones was when he became the first two-way player with 10+ home runs and 20+ stolen bases. Not to mention he was a hitter with 100+ strikeouts and 10+ pitching appearances as a pitcher; all in a single season. 

Throughout this period, he maintained a share of the top spot in the major leagues for home runs in a minimum of fourteen starts. While the statistics might be overwhelming (because that’s how the unicorn functions), the commissioner of MLB shared something while sums up Shotime’s presence. Rob Manfred called his performance ”historically significant” and making a “major impact on the sport”. If that isn’t a foundation solid enough for his legacy, there’s more. 

Stakes at Peak: The Sole Representative of the Elite $550-$600 Million Club

The Ohsu-born is capable of checking all boxes as a sought-after free agent. His pitching is top-notch, his hitting is incomparable, and he poses a highly marketable value which amps up his price tag. Well, though he is not going to pitch in 2024, it definitely does not undermine his pitching abilities when healthy. It is safe to call him a once-in-a-lifetime agent, given that no player has done in the past what Ohtani has done. What further adds another layer of credibility to his abilities is his camp’s deafening silence on the matter of free agency, even during the Winter Meetings. Not to mention the gravity of the situation. 

While there is no definitive information on who might land the 29-year-old, one can’t help but speculate. Courtesy: he is the sole forerunner of the elite $550-$600 million club. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Ohtani is expected to sign a multi-year contract worth a minimum of $550 million and a maximum of $600 million. That said, the deadline is approaching and meetings are underway. If speculations were true, the unicorn’s new team should be revealed any time soon. One can only keep their fingers crossed.

2017 vs 2023 – A Changed Approach: Lessons From the Past Which May Decide His Next Team

Though at present, Ohtani has posed as a really mature and premium player, there was definitely a learning curve. Let’s flashback to 2017, which was Ohtani’s first free agency. The then-23-year-old was not eligible for the MLB bonus pool for amateur free agents from other countries. However, he could have waited two more years to be a ‘normal’ free agent. But Ohtani decided to leave $200 million on the table and depart from Japan at that time. It was quite a buzz when the Los Angeles Angels signed him with a bonus of over $2 million. He was then paid MLB’s standard salary for his first six seasons. But clearly at that time, Ohtani’s priorities were different. 

As of today, having established his might without a compromise, his priorities seem to have shifted. Nez Balelo 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“. Well, that pretty much sums up what lesson the premium player’s first free agency taught him. 

New Home: What’s Next for Two-Way Phenom Shohei Ohtani

Well, the Winter Meetings might be a stage for some news on where Shohei lands. But till there is an official statement, the Los Angeles Dodgers are believed to be the hungriest for him. The other teams chasing him are the San Francisco Giants, the Texas Rangers, the Angels, the Chicago Cubs, and the New York Mets. While these names are linked with him, could it be that the predictions come true? 

Read More: Are Shohei Ohtani Sweepstakes Set to Heat Up, With Teams Backing Out Amidst Nearing Winter Meetings?

The Dodgers mark off every category on Ohtani’s list, which puts this team in an amazing position to sign him. But the other teams cannot be ruled out. For whoever signs him, there will be one big question. Can Ohtani change the course of the team that lands him?

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