Ohtani is a two-time MVP

By Joe Morgan Fox News – Published December 9, 2023 – Fox Sports

My cmnt: I pay so little attention to MLB and so was pleased to see this Japanese player do so astonishingly well and win two MVPs.

The modern-day Babe Ruth will continue his career in Los Angeles. 

Shohei Ohtani, the two-time winner of the American League MVP, will sign with the Los
Angeles Dodgers in free agency after spending the first six years of his
career with the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani announced in an Instagram
post. 

Ohtani’s agent announced the deal with the Dodgers is for $700 million over 10
years. The deal is the largest in baseball history. “This is a unique, historic contract for a unique, historic player,” Nez Balelo of CAA Sports said in a statement. Shohei
is thrilled to be part of the Dodgers organization. He is excited to
begin this partnership, and he structured his contract to reflect a true
commitment from both sides to long-term success. Shohei and I want to
thank all the organizations that reached out to us for their interest
and respect, especially the wonderful people we got to know even better
as this process unfolded. We know fans, media and the entire industry
had a high degree of interest in this process, and we want to express
our appreciation for their passion and their consideration as it played
out.” The deal includes deferred money that will lower the amount
counted towards the Dodgers’ luxury tax payroll, according to The
Associated Press. Ohtani is coming off his second MVP in 2023 as a two-way phenom. At
the plate, Ohtani led the majors in 2023 with a .654 slugging
percentage and 1.066 OPS; his .412 on-base percentage was second; his 44
homers were fourth; and his .304 average was ranked ninth. Ohtani
was also brilliant on the mound, going 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA and 167
strikeouts in 132 innings pitched. Among pitchers who threw 130.0
innings, his ERA was the ninth-lowest in MLB and his K/9 was sixth.
Among AL pitchers with that number of innings, he ranked fifth and
third, respectively. His 10.0 WAR, by far, led the majors; Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts’ 8.3 was second. 

Ohtani thanked the Angels organization and fans in his Instagram post. “First
of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone
involved with the Angels organization and the fans who have supported me
over the past six years, as well as to everyone involved with each team
that was part of this negotiation process,” Ohtani wrote. “Especially
to the Angels fans who supported me through all the ups and downs, your
guys’ support and cheer meant the world to me. The six years I spent
with the Angels will remain etched in my heart forever.”Ohtani will not pitch in 2024 after undergoing surgery on his right elbow — the second of his career — on September 19 after tearing his ulnar collateral ligament on August 23.

Ohtani’s free agency has been the talk of baseball for the last year after he
signed a one-year, $30 million contract before the 2023 season to avoid
arbitration. 

Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.