ESPN Click Bait: Can the Angels keep Shohei Ohtani? A payroll crisis looms in Los Angeles

[Chuck]

Buster Olney - ESPN Senior Writer

Everything Shohei Ohtani has accomplished this summer is unprecedented: the high-end pitching and high-impact hitting, the takeover of the two days of All-Star events, the marketability. With a season résumé that looks like none other, he'll win the American League's Most Valuable Player Award, having fully stretched the imagination of the Los Angeles Angels' staff -- and managers' and executives' with other teams, for that matter -- about his future capabilities.

Ohtani, 27, has demonstrated he can be the most productive player in baseball regularly performing as a starting pitcher and a position player. If there comes a day when Ohtani wants to dial back on his innings as a pitcher, one rival talent evaluator opined, he could become his generation's John Smoltz, shifting from the rotation to the role of closer. "He could warm up in the eighth inning, take his fifth plate appearance, and then go out and get the save," the evaluator said.

He could eventually make the same transition that Babe Ruth made, from a two-way player to a full-time outfielder. "That would be tempting," said one AL manager, grinning at the notion of Ohtani devoting all of his acumen and athleticism to run production. "Can you imagine what he could do?" If Ohtani had 700 plate appearances at his 2021 home run rate, he'd hit 60 homers -- and it seems very possible he would have more efficiency as a hitter if that were his only responsibility. He's proved to everyone this year: You cannot underestimate Shohei Ohtani.

With an unprecedented range of skills, Ohtani may well be headed toward an unprecedented financial high ground that will be more than challenging for the Angels, given their existing big-money obligations to Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon. 

(Paywall) More: https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/31997589/can-angels-keep-shohei-ohtani-payroll-crisis-looms-los-angeles

[totdprods]

I think the only thing standing in the way of the Angels keeping Ohtani is if Ohtani decides he no longer wants to be here. He chose the Angels seemingly because they were the one team really offering him the chance to do what he wanted to do and he has effectively shown he can do that. There will be a lot more teams now willing to allow him to do what he wants, so unlike before there may be much more serious competition.

But that aside, he chose to be here once, we've continued to let him do his thing - more now than ever even - and we will pay. It just remains to be seen if he chose to be here because we were the only ones offering him the chance he really wanted, or if he really wanted to be an Angel.

[PattyD22]

2 minutes ago, totdprods said:

I think the only thing standing in the way of the Angels keeping Ohtani is if Ohtani decides he no longer wants to be here. He chose the Angels seemingly because they were the one team really offering him the chance to do what he wanted to do and he has effectively shown he can do that. There will be a lot more teams now willing to allow him to do what he wants, so unlike before there may be much more serious competition.

But that aside, he chose to be here once, we've continued to let him do his thing - more now than ever even - and we will pay. It just remains to be seen if he chose to be here because we were the only ones offering him the chance he really wanted, or if he really wanted to be an Angel.

It’s the Mike Trout renegotiation, 2.0.

Should be good times.

All we’re missing is Claude.

Edited August 12, 2021 by PattyD22

[Blarg]

Not missing Claude at all. 

[WicketMaiden]

Ohtani is so utterly compelling, and so completely marketable, you could fill your marketing team full of interns and still make back more in additional revenue than whatever you paid him. Budget really shouldn't be an excuse for any team, for a groundbreaking star like Ohtani who is just entering his prime as a hitter and is yet to see his prime as a pitcher, even though he has a strong argument to earn the highest AAV contract ever. Pay the man and sign him up Perry.

[Jeff Fletcher]

41 minutes ago, totdprods said:

seemingly because they were the one team really offering him the chance to do what he wanted to do

I don’t believe this is true at all. I think every team would have allowed him to at least begin his career as a two way player. 

[totdprods]

Just now, Jeff Fletcher said:

I don’t believe this is true at all. I think every team would have allowed him to at least begin his career as a two way player. 

Without knowing what each team was actually proposing, I think I meant it more as in the Angels laid out a plan or a 'feel' that seemed to connect with Ohtani maybe more than other clubs. 

I don't doubt that other teams were willing to let him do the two-way thing, or that is was the lone factor why he chose here, but I imagine something about their pitch to him - some of their data, their reasoning, their plan, what they were willing to do, or even Ohtani's comfort in that they understand - surely helped give them some advantage over the competition. Could even be just the way they let him live his life and prepare. 

[fan_since79]

What's the money problem??

Arte has billions, he can cough up some bucks to add to the pot.

But you know, if Ohtani wants to leave and go to a contender, then best of luck to him. I'm already at peace with the possibility we may never again make the playoffs in my lifetime. 

[failos]

They better work on this quickly

[Dtwncbad]

I think the article is stupid.  There is so much more money to be made in having Ohtani vs not having him that he is in a special category.

I might be impossible to overpay him.

He historically elevates the face of the franchise substantially which translates into fan base, interest and loyalty to the club, tv ratings, attendance, etc etc.

All of that increases the value of the franchise.

The ultimate would be if the Angels could win a World Series with Ohtani and Trout, then this franchise’s relevance overall ratchets up a couple of levels, to a level it has never been before.

This would cause the franchise’s value to also reach a level it has never been before.

This is not a situation where a team is trying to stay below the luxury tax and has to decide to go with an in house closer rather than sign an elite closer.

This is a truly historical figure where (if they are smart) annual cash flow is secondary to building the overall value of the franchise with Ohtani’s  historical value.

He has to stay.  Unless they are stupid.  And I guess many may are that they are.

Edited August 12, 2021 by Dtwncbad

[jsnpritchett]

2 minutes ago, Angelsfan1984 said:

Most importantly I have it on good authority that ohtani has the hots for my wife’s friend who is head of security for Angels stadium. He’s asked her out more than a handful of times

@Jeff Fletcher that’s confidential.

[Angelsfan1984]

Definitely not like that. 

[Taylor]

10 minutes ago, jsnpritchett said:

 

[jsnpritchett]

5 minutes ago, Angelsfan1984 said:

Definitely not like that. 

Well, you said he's asked her out "more than a handful of times," so that would indicate she said...no, right?  Maybe he should give it a rest.

[Angelsfan1984]

7 minutes ago, jsnpritchett said:

Well, you said he's asked her out "more than a handful of times," so that would indicate she said...no, right?  Maybe he should give it a rest.

Maybe if you don’t know the details you shouldn’t get your parties in such a twist. 

[jsnpritchett]

4 minutes ago, Angelsfan1984 said:

Maybe if you don’t know the details you shouldn’t get your parties in such a twist. 

Maybe you shouldn't post rumors about players on a public message board.

[Angelsfan1984]

4 minutes ago, jsnpritchett said:

Maybe you shouldn't post rumors about players on a public message board.

Lol. Sure captain America. I have nothing to prove to you and I’ll be sure to keep my actual insight quiet. 

[jsnpritchett]

1 minute ago, Angelsfan1984 said:

Lol. Sure captain America. I have nothing to prove to you and I’ll be sure to keep my actual insight quiet. 

What were you trying to accomplish by posting something like that in this thread?  Trying to gain clout in some weird way?  It's just odd, dude.  "Hey this really famous guy has been asking out my wife's friend a bunch of times, even though they're both employees of the same organization."  Uh, ok.

[Angelsfan1984]

4 minutes ago, jsnpritchett said:

What were you trying to accomplish by posting something like that in this thread?  Trying to gain clout in some weird way?  It's just odd, dude.  "Hey this really famous guy has been asking out my wife's friend a bunch of times, even though they're both employees of the same organization."  Uh, ok.

You have way way too much time on your hands. Take one of those many moments to look at the original posts about saying why they think he’ll stay or go. Then from that, let’s use our brains here…let me know if I should slow down…and think how something as simple as him asking out my friend might provide some light hearted insight into this.  Then…again let me know if I should slow down here…let’s take that info and laugh about it. Definitely not turn it into to catch a predator. 
 

follow me buddy? 

[jsnpritchett]

1 minute ago, Angelsfan1984 said:

You have way way too much time on your hands. Take one of those many moments to look at the original posts about saying why they think he’ll stay or go. Then from that, let’s use our brains here…let me know if I should slow down…and think how something as simple as him asking out my friend might some light hearted insight into this.  Then…again let me know if I should slow down here…let’s take that info and laugh about it. Definitely not turn it into to catch a predator. 
 

follow me buddy? 

Sorry, still think it's beyond stupid, but enjoy it, I guess.

[eligrba]

6 minutes ago, Angelsfan1984 said:

You have way way too much time on your hands. Take one of those many moments to look at the original posts about saying why they think he’ll stay or go. Then from that, let’s use our brains here…let me know if I should slow down…and think how something as simple as him asking out my friend might provide some light hearted insight into this.  Then…again let me know if I should slow down here…let’s take that info and laugh about it. Definitely not turn it into to catch a predator. 
 

follow me buddy? 

You went too fast, can you repeat it?

[Angel Oracle]

Back on topic, if Arte doesn’t extend him beyond 2023, then feel free to sell the team.

[beatlesrule]

Wait, what's a wife?

[Stradling]

2 hours ago, fan_since79 said:

What's the money problem??

Arte has billions, he can cough up some bucks to add to the pot.

But you know, if Ohtani wants to leave and go to a contender, then best of luck to him. I'm already at peace with the possibility we may never again make the playoffs in my lifetime. 

That peace is evident in your posting style. 

[Revad]

1 hour ago, Angel Oracle said:

Back on topic, if Arte doesn’t extend him beyond 2023, then feel free to sell the team.

I agree.  Also, as suggested earlier in the thread extending Ohtani beyond his current commitment (viagra helps) will only increase the value of the franchise.  Artie should sign him then sell.  Or just say, I’ve been waiting for the right player to go over budget for and here he dropped into my lap (we remember you Billy).