Shohei Ohtani's status was the focus of the 2023 MLB trade deadline — until Angels management announced that it would not make the likely American League MVP available.
Even with the Angels moving toward going all-in on contending this season, Ohtani remains in line to hit free agency after the season and is expected to command the largest contract in MLB history.
He would be an ideal fit for just about any team, but how many teams can afford what he'll be asking to be paid? The Angels surely asked themselves that question as they decided their path forward with Ohtani.
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Here's what you need to know about Ohtani's upcoming free agency, including a timeline, his projected contract and potential landing spots.
When will Shohei Ohtani be a free agent?
Ohtani is set to become a free agent the day after the 2023 World Series ends. That means the Angels star will hit the open market on Nov. 5 at the latest, barring any contract extension reached before that point.
Players can't sign with a new team until five days after they become free agents, giving their current teams an exclusive window to negotiate. That rarely matters, however; there usually isn't much movement on the market until early December when the Winter Meetings take place.
This past offseason, Aaron Judge, Xander Bogaerts, Trea Turner, Justin Verlander and most other prominent free agents agreed to deals in early or mid-December. That means it wouldn't be shocking to see a process as complicated as Ohtani's drag out for a few weeks.
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Shohei Ohtani projected contract
Ohtani is widely expected to receive the largest contract in MLB history in terms of total cash, a distinction currently held by his teammate Mike Trout. Trout is playing out a 12-year, $426.5 million agreement he signed in 2019. While five other players have surpassed Trout in average annual value, he stands as the only $400 million player in the sport. That's about to change.
Spotrac took a swing at valuing Ohtani's contributions as both a hitter and a pitcher. It estimated that he's worth a nine-year, $326 million contract as a hitter and a six-year, $202 million deal as a pitcher. Those are just estimates, but together they add up to $528 million.
Based on our projection model, current valuations for pending #Angels free agent, & runaway MVP favorite Shohei Ohtani.
— Spotrac (@spotrac) June 27, 2023
Shohei the Pitcher
6 years, $202,000,000
Shohei the Hitter
9 years, $326,000,000
Ohtani can also make the pitch to teams that the interest he creates among fans — in Japan and the U.S. — who are mystified by what he can do is also worth something.
If there's anything that might depress his market, it's the unprecedented nature of what he's doing. He brings more value than any other player because he hits and pitches well, but how long can his body continue do that?
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Ohtani has stayed healthy while functioning as both a hitter and pitcher for almost three full seasons, but a commitment of eight, nine or more years is a risk regardless of how valuable he is in 2023. In all likelihood, it will be a risk several teams will be willing to take.
Shohei Ohtani landing spots
Ohtani's free-agent market could be limited to the teams that can afford the massive contract he'll command. While teams such as the Orioles and Diamondbacks reportedly had interest in trading for him ahead of the deadline, it would be unprecedented for such a small-market team to hand out a colossal deal.
Here are a few of the teams that could be players for Ohtani in free agency:
Dodgers
The Dodgers have let several big-name free agents walk in recent years, with Max Scherzer, Corey Seager and Trea Turner all leaving for massive deals elsewhere. Now fifth in payroll, Los Angeles has plenty of room to add a marquee player. For a team that seemingly has an endless championship window, the Dodgers are only a good fit for Ohtani.
Giants
The Giants similarly left room open to add a premier free agent, but not intentionally. Aaron Judge passed on their offer last winter, while an agreement with Carlos Correa fell through due to medical concerns. San Francisco badly needs a star and has shown a willingness to spend big in order to land one.
Mets
The Mets looked like a team with unlimited money over the last two offseasons. While Steve Cohen was open earlier this season in saying that type of spending is unsustainable, he might not be able to resist bringing in a talent like Ohtani. Could unloading Scherzer and Justin Verlander be the key to freeing up money for Ohtani?
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Yankees
As each year passes without a World Series appearance, pressure builds in the Bronx. If Brian Cashman survives this season, will he feel compelled to make a splash after passing on most premier free agents in recent offseasons? There's no doubt the Yankees can afford Ohtani.
Mariners
The Mariners aren't considered big spenders, but they have made a splash before by giving Robinson Cano a megadeal. They have some long-term flexibility thanks to Julio Rodriguez's fairly team-friendly contract. Seattle was a finalist for Ohtani in 2017, and he spends part of his offseason in the city. With the Mariners hoping to win now and in the long term, this could be a natural fit.
Rangers
The Rangers have settled into their new stadium and spent big money in back-to-back offseasons. Do they have one more in them? If Texas genuinely sees right now as the opportunity to knock the Astros off their pedestal atop the AL West, bringing in Ohtani would be the best way to become a realistic championship contender.
Angels
Don't rule out the Angels just yet. Owner Arte Moreno keeping Ohtani through the trade deadline might be an indication he sees his team at least having a chance to retain the star.
It won't be easy, however. Ohtani has said winning is a priority, and the Angels haven't shown an ability to build a winner in his six seasons.
The Angels also have a great deal of money tied up in Trout and Anthony Rendon and could have a tough time filling out the rest of the roster if they gave Ohtani a megadeal.
