Last Updated on 08/04/2022 by てんしょく飯
Major League Baseball’s mid-season trade deadline passed on the 2nd (Japan time 3rd), and it was decided that Shohei Otani (28) of the Angels will remain with the team. The Angels traded Brandon Marsh (24), who had established himself as a regular in the outfield, and starting right fielder Noah Syndergaard (29) to the Phillies just before the deadline, and defensive end Raisel Iglesias (32) to the Braves. The U.S. media has linked the reasons for this unusual trade to preparation for Ohtani’s contract renewal, which awaits him this offseason, and to a possible contract extension.
The release of Iglesias, Marsh, and Syndergaard will bring in million.
Otani, whose departure had been under scrutiny, remained with the team. The New York Post and other media had already reported the day before that he had decided to stay, although several teams, including the Yankees and White Sox, had specifically asked to trade for Ohtani. However, the Yankees, White Sox, and other teams made specific offers to trade for Otani, but the team did not accept those offers, reflecting the strong will of owner Moreno.
However, the Angels, who were 43-59 at the trade deadline and on the verge of dropping out of postseason contention, made three rush trades. They released closer Iglesias to the Braves, Marsh, who had been playing regularly in left, and starting rotation player Syndergaard to the Phillies. In an unusual surprise trade, MLB’s official website stated, “Syndergaard, who was scheduled to start against the Athletics on April 2 (Japan time), was thought to be traded away because he will become a free agent (this offseason) and the Angels are out of the championship race. But the trade of Marsh and Iglesias, especially considering that Iglesias had signed a four-year, $58 million) contract before the start of the season, was a surprise trade,” he accepted.
The U.S. media then tied the significance of the trade to Ohtani’s contract renewal and extension that awaits him this offseason.
The Los Angeles Times reported, “The Phillies and Braves (who made the trade) will each take on an annual salary payment (of the player transferred), freeing up at least $58 million from the Angels’ total annual salary, which could be spent on roster upgrades next season or otherwise. A lot of the money could be directed toward a potential contract with Ohtani,” he analyzed.
GM Perry Minassian said, “The owners have obviously made a (big) investment in this team, considering the total annual salary. I need to do a good job of building a (championship) roster. I know there has been a lot of speculation (trades this offseason) about Shohei and Mike (Trout), but we have to think about the whole organization, not just two players.”
The Orange County Register also reported GM Minassian’s comment, “I think (the trade) has helped the situation along. The Orange County Register also linked the trade to Ohtani’s contract issues with GM Minassian’s comment, “I think [the trade] has made things better.
GM Minassian did not hint at any involvement in contract discussions with Ohtani, but one of the reasons (for making this trade) may be to extend Ohtani’s contract. In addition to simply coming up with the right amount of money to generate Ohtani’s salary, the Angels need to build a team that can win so that Ohtani will want to stay with the team. The Braves have graciously taken over all of Iglesias’ remaining contract at $16 million per year per season through each of the next three years, including the remaining $3.6 million this season. This could help create (salary) space for Otani, or any player other than Otani, Mike Trout, or Anthony Rendon.”
Ohtani signed a two-year contract last February with a salary of $5.5 million this season, but his contract is up for renewal this offseason and he will be eligible for free agency next offseason. Ohtani is expected to demand a salary of at least $35 million in contract renewals this offseason, and if he were to sign a multi-year contract with an extension instead of a single-year deal, he would need to secure that salary slot.
The official MLB website also suggested that “the Braves will take over Iglesias’ remaining contract of about $51 million, which would give the Angels some flexibility in terms of total annual salary for Otani, the two-fisted star who is expected to become a free agent after next season.
It is possible that trade approaches for Ohtani will once again flood in this offseason. However, the worst-case scenario, in which the Angels are unable to secure Ohtani’s salary for next season and decide to release him, may have been averted for the time being.
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