Otani Shohei
Angel announced on the 2nd that he signed a one-year 30 million dollar contract with Otani Shohei, setting a record for a salary arbitration player! Dagu will become a free agent after the season ends next year, and he has one last salary arbitration qualification. The Angels paid $30 million in advance to avoid arbitration. The previous record was $27 million for Mookie Betts in 2020.
Dagu joined the major leagues in 2018 and received a base salary of $550,000, $650,000, and $700,000 in the first three years, plus a $2.3 million signing bonus. After obtaining the salary arbitration qualification, Dagu proposed an annual salary of 3.3 million US dollars before the start of the 2021 season, but the angels were only willing to give 2.5 million US dollars, and finally reached an agreement with "two years and 8.5 million US dollars". Last year's salary was 3 million US dollars, and this year's 5.5 million US dollars is not a small salary increase, of course, it is still not proportional to his actual worth. The
Angel boss is currently planning to sell the team, and it is expected that they will trade Shohei Otani next year. Referring to Baez's situation, the Red Sox temporarily sold him to the Dodgers to rectify their finances. As a result, Baez rejected the Red Sox's 10-year $300 million bid and was snatched by the Dodgers for 12 years and $365 million. The contract lasted until he was 39 years old.
The 28-year-old Otani has a chance to re-sign after the new season and has a chance to get a 10-year long-term contract, which can easily surpass Tanaka's 7-year contract with the Yankees and a record of $155 million for Japanese players. Otani was voted the AL unanimous MVP last season. Although Aaron Judge tied the home run record this season, Otani's excellent performance on both ends of the pitch should still give him a few first-place votes, as well as the AL. Pitcher Cy Young Award votes.
