Monday, December 11, 2023
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2023
Before Saturday afternoon, I thought the hype surrounding Shohei Ohtani coming to the Los Angeles Dodgers was a big do-about-nothing. There was no way the Dodgers would get Ohtani, particularly when they needed starting pitching to be competitive.
As usual, I underestimated Andrew Friedman and Brandon Gomes’ ability to attract the players they wanted. On the surface, Ohtani’s contract of $700 million for ten years looks insane, even though he can earn most of the money for the Dodgers by endorsements. However, on Monday, the Dodgers announced Ohtani is deferring $680 million, so the Dodgers can afford other players they need to win. As a kid, Ohtani wrote a goal of winning the World Series by the age of 27, and his willingness to defer most of it proves Ohtani wants to win now.
While with the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani never had an opportunity to play in the postseason. Upon leaving the Angels, Ohtani thanked the Angel organization for his time and memories.
Ohtani signed with the Angels before the 2018 season and won the American League Rookie of the Year. In November 2018, Ohtani underwent Tommy John surgery and couldn’t pitch during the 2019 season. He returned to the mound in the 2020 abbreviated season but didn’t finish the season on the mound because of his flexor strain.
From 2021 to 2023, Ohtani dominated baseball at the plate and on the mound. In the 2021 season, he was the unanimous American League MVP. If Aaron Judge hadn’t hit more than 61 home runs during the 2022 season, Ohtani would have won that MVP. Although he didn’t play for the last month of the season this past season, Ohtani won the American League MVP unanimously, becoming the only player in history who won two American League MVPs.
Since Ohtani underwent another elbow surgery at the end of the 2023 season, he won’t pitch during the upcoming season but plans to pitch in 2025.
Everybody in the baseball world knows the Dodgers must have starting pitchers. The Dodgers’ starting pitchers collapsed in the NLDS against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Although the Dodgers have three rookie phenomenons – Bobby Miller, Emmet Sheenan, and Ryan Pepiot, the Dodgers must have at least two starters. Coming off his second Tommy John surgery, Walker Buehler is expected to return but should have an inning limit.
The Dodger three young starters are right-handed. They must have a lefty in the starting rotation. The 2023 National League Cy Young Award winner, Blake Snell, is a free agent and a perfect fit for the Dodgers, but Scott Boras represents Snell. Friedman dislikes dealing with Boras.
The Dodgers need a right-handed hitting left fielder and shortstop. Now the Dodgers have Gavin Lux playing shortstop, Lux is coming off a major knee surgery. With Max Muncy’s limited range, the Dodgers need a dynamic shortstop to have decent infield defense.
On the surface, Ohtani’s contract looks ridiculous, but Ohtani gave the Dodgers a bargain. With the money that Ohtani gave his new team, the Dodgers can obtain starting pitchers, a left fielder, and a shortstop.
