Shohei Ohtani was promised contract extension by Angels before $700M Dodgers deal, claims ex-Marlins president
Shohei Ohtani started his MLB career the Los Angeles Angels but left them in 2023. He went across town, won the World Series, and probably earned another MVP award. According to former Miami marlins president David Samson, the Angels arguably went against MLB's instruction and promised the two-way star an extension.
The topic came up in a discussion about Roki Sasaki's potential posting. Like Ohtani, he would be younger and would cost less than a normal free agent. It would be like Ohtani's first contract and not like Yoshinobu Yamamoto's deal.
Samson, the former Miami Marlins president, said:
"It's to let the small markets think that they're competitive for a player like this. It's why there was a letter sent when Ohtani signed that if we hear that any team has promised Ohtani an extension, we will void the deal."
He continued:
"Of course Arte Moreno had a deal with Ohtani. Obviously. Do I believe that teams do that against the rules? I 100% believe it. Do teams promise things they shouldn't? They do."
Ohtani never agreed to that extension if there was any. Instead, he signed a historic $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. A team will likely do the same for Sasaki, but it remains to be seen whether it might be legitimate.
Arte Moreno opens up on not signing Shohei Ohtani
The Los Angeles Angels ultimately did not factor much into the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes last winter. He went with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and really only the Toronto Blue Jays were involved as well.
Arte Moreno revealed in October why they didn't, or couldn't, sign Ohtani, via Newsweek:
"Having Mike Trout under contract for $37.1 million per season through 2030 and Anthony Rendon signed through '26 at $38.5 million, made it unfeasible to re-sign Shohei Ohtani."
The Angels tried to form a big three of sorts with Ohtani, Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon. Trout's injuries and Rendon's poor play rendered that moot, but the money was already spent. Ultimately, the Angels felt the need to cut down on payroll in 2024, and re-signing Ohtani would not have done that.