Ohtani, Angels Agree To $8.5 Million 2 - Year Deal
In Major League Baseball, Ohtani Shohei, the Japanese two-way player of the Los Angeles Angels, has agreed to a two-year, 8.5 million-dollar deal with the team.
Ohtani became eligible for arbitration after ending his third season in the Major Leagues.
US media reported that Ohtani had sought 3.3 million dollars for the upcoming season, while the Angels had offered 2.5 million dollars.
The club announced on Monday the two sides agreed on a two-year contract before an arbitration hearing set for February 19.
Ohtani will earn 3 million dollars this season and 5.5 million dollars next season.
This surpasses Ohtani's own annual salary record of about 2.5 million dollars, which he earned in 2017 during his last year with Nippon Ham of the Japanese professional baseball league.
The Angels' general manager Perry Minasian explained over the phone that they had no time to work out a one-year deal.
He described it as a unique case, saying, "There's risk and reward for both sides, but it made sense for them and it made sense for us. We're ecstatic we could get a deal done."
Ohtani's agent Nez Balelo revealed in an online interview that his client is happy with the agreement because it will enable him to focus on baseball for the next two years.
Balelo explained that Ohtani has been intensifying training in both pitching and batting, and said he's in very good shape for the upcoming season.