The Los Angeles Angels are adjusting to life without Shohei Ohtani, who left the organization for a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Angels were believed to be a finalist in the Ohtani sweepstakes, largely due to the familiarity the two-way star had established with the team.
However, Ohtani made it clear during his introductory press conference with the Dodgers that his top priority is winning a World Series. In six seasons with the Angels, the 29-year-old never reached the postseason.
While speaking with reporters, Angels general manager Perry Minasian declined to share how close the team was to re-signing Ohtani but wished him well with the Dodgers, per Jeff Fletcher of the Southern California News Group:
“I’m not going to get into specifics,” Minasian said on a video conference Friday. “I understand the question. When it comes to negotiations, it’s not something that we make public. I’ve got a great relationship with (agent Nez Balelo), a great relationship with Sho. The organization has a great relationship with both. And we congratulate them and we wish him nothing but the best.”
While Minasian declined to shed light on his negotiations with Ohtani, agent Nez Baleo said the Angels were involved until the very end. “I spoke to the Angels throughout,” he confirmed at Ohtani’s press conference.
“Perry and I have a very good relationship, so I made sure I kept in touch with them. I spoke with them toward the end, and we had some conversations. At the end, it just wasn’t going to work and we decided to go with the Dodgers. But I was in contact with the Angels.”
Angels declined to match Dodgers’ contract for Shohei Ohtani
As expected from the start of his free agency, Ohtani received the largest contract in professional sports history from the Dodgers. Though, it came with unprecedented deferrals as Ohtani will only earn $20 million during the life of the contract.
Angels owner Arte Moreno was given the opportunity to match the deal but opted not to, spelling the end of Ohtani’s tenure with the team.
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