About two months ago, everything was going well for Shohei Ohtani. He was in the midst of his historic season and the Angels were buyers at the deadline.
But everything fell apart. Elbow surgery will prevent him from pitching in 2024 and the Angels are back to being, as usual, bad.
All this happens a few months before his autonomy. The Japanese was close to signing the contract he wanted, but plans changed.
He will still have a big contract, but many clubs wanted him as a #1 pitcher and as a hitter. But there, after two major elbow operations, will he still be able to guide a rotation?
We will only know in 2025.
This is why it is logical to think that the team that signs him will ask that his prowess on the mound be paid in performance bonuses.
So if he doesn’t pitch, he will be paid as a hitter and a marketing tool, but not as a pitcher.
Otherwise, some people have suggested seeing him sign a short contract to prove himself. That said, I don’t know if he wants that.
That said, why not ask for a contract that would come with bonuses for his performance on the mound, of course, but which also comes with an option to exit in two years?
It might help him. Let me explain.
If Ohtani ever manages to pitch like before in 2025, he could become a free agent again and sign a contract worthy of what he is capable of.
We are talking about a contract as we predicted three months ago, for example.
If he throws badly, he remains in his agreement. This could benefit him and could help counter clubs who want to base his pitcher’s salary on performance bonuses.
I don’t know if it’s his type, he who seems to want stability. But what he also wants is to win games and go to the playoffs.
Signing such a contract could give him a way out in the event of signing with a team that is collapsing, for example.
I don’t know how much he wants that, but it has to be something to consider, right? After all, less good players than him are asking for such options now…
