The long awaited decision from two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani has finally reached the public, as Ohtani has posted on Instagram that he is signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers. His deal is for $700 million over 10 years.
This has large implications with not only his new team, but the Los Angeles Angels and how they move forward.
Shortly after joining the Angels, it became clear that he would become the face of that franchise with his game breaking ability to impact a game on multiple fronts. Being paired up with three-time MVP Mike Trout was a match, lined with perfection in the pure firepower of their game.
The downside was the team around them. The Angels failed to make the playoffs during Ohtani’s tenure, a monumental failure for fans of the team and Major League Baseball.
Ohtani having a meteoric rise to MLB stardom more than earned him a historic $700 million contract. And it lines him and the Dodgers up to be a competitive force for the foreseeable future. Because of his status as the Angels’ ace, and their most consistent piece to the top of their offense, they’re left with two huge holes to fill.
General manager Perry Minasian has an uphill battle to climb with the drop-off in production now that they’re without Ohtani. Fortunately, the youthful talent on their current Major League roster is solid enough, but won’t be up to the expectation level of the last few seasons.
Ohtani made the Angels a contender, and with Trout healthy, they had the chance to make a push for the postseason if all things went according to plan. The franchise hasn’t been built like other top-end teams, where they could absorb the loss of a key piece to the roster, and push on.
Minasian is in a difficult position with an aging star in centerfield, and where the team goes from this point on. New manager Ron Washington will bring a ton to the organization in both experience and teaching ability, however.
But the view that this Angels team can compete for an American League West crown is viewed as an incredibly difficult feat. Minasian recently discussed how he plans to keep the team competitive, but that could mean a variety of things, and he might opt to look to develop from within.
Without Shohei Ohtani, the Angels plan to stay active in team building
The Angels have an $73.5 million in payroll space to the collective bargaining tax per Cot’s projections, and Minasian insisted they intend to keep bringing in pieces to help build a complete team.
The 2023 season forced a lot of their young players into game action, which bodes well for them in terms of exposure.
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