Shohei Ohtani Agrees to One-Year Contract with the Angels for $30 Million! Passing Yu Darvish to become the highest paid Japanese Major Leaguer in history!

Last Updated on 10/04/2022 by てんしょく飯

Shohei Ohtani has re-signed with the Angels.

The Angels, home to Japanese major leaguer Shohei Ohtani (28), have announced that they have agreed to a one-year contract at $30 million per year (approximately 4.35 billion yen), avoiding an annual salary arbitration with Ohtani.

Shohei Ohtani has re-signed with the Angels.

This is the highest amount ever for a player with the right to arbitrage his salary, and it will be the last contract for Ohtani, who will become a free agent after next season. The previous record was set by Mookie Betts of the Dodgers at $27 million (¥3,985.51 million).

It is also the highest amount ever paid to a Japanese major leaguer. The previous No. 1 was Yu Darvish, who signed with the Cubs in 2018 for $25 million (about 3.616 billion yen).

Since Ohtani’s salary this season is $5.5 million (approximately 796 million yen), this is an increase of $24.5 million, making it the largest annual salary increase in history at 5.45 times. The previous number one increase was Jacob deGrom of the Mets at $9.6 million ($1.39 billion).

According to The Post’s Joel Sherman, the deal not only removes uncertainty from salary negotiations, but may have also raised Ohtani’s appeal on the trade market.

Ohtani, who was named MVP last season, has been a candidate for the award this year. He is currently competing for that position with Aaron Judge of the Yankees.

Ohtani is 15-8 with a 2.35 ERA, 213 strikeouts, and a .276 batting average with 34 home runs.

It is unusual for a player with the right to arbitrate his salary to avoid arbitration and sign a large contract before the end of the regular season.