Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani ended the suspense on Friday, agreeing to sign with the Los Angeles Angels where he’ll team with two-time Most Valuable Player Mike Trout.
“This morning, after a thorough, detailed process, Shohei Ohtani has decided to sign with the Los Angeles Angels,” Ohtani’s agent Nez Balelo said in a statement, capping a frenzy of courtship and speculation that had surrounded the player’s move to the US major leagues.
The Angels have until December 22 to finalise a deal with the 23-year-old.
They must pay the $20 million posting fee to Ohtani’s Japanese club the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. He’ll receive a minor league contract, along with the $2.315 million in international bonus money the Angels have available.
On Wednesday the Angels boosted their international bonus fund by $1 million by trading outfielder Jacob Pearson to the Minnesota Twins.
The acquisition is a coup for the Angels, who beat out a host of suitors. That included six other teams that made his short list: The Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs.
“Shohei is humbled and flattered by all the time and effort that so many teams put into their presentations,” Balelo said.
“What mattered to him most wasn’t market size, time zone or league but that he felt a true bond with the Angels.
“He sees this as the best environment to develop and reach the next level and attain his career goals.”
The Angels said they were “honored” to have won the race for Ohtani’s signature.
“We felt a unique connectivity with him throughout the process and are excited he will become an Angel,” the club said.
Ohtani, dubbed the Babe Ruth of Japan, is a two-way threat with a fastball clocked at 100 mph (161 km/h) and an explosive presence at the plate.
Although his 2017 season with the Ham Fighters was hampered by an ankle injury, in 2016 he put up dazzling numbers, with a 10-4 record and a 1.86 ERA in 140 innings.
At the plate he hit.322 and clubbed 22 home runs.
In 403 games over four seasons with the Japan Pacific League club he batted.286 with 48 homers, 166 RBIs and a.859 OPS. As a pitcher, he was 42-15 with a 2.52 ERA in 85 outings (82 starts).
A family-like atmosphere helped the Angels win the frenzied battle to sign Japanese ace Shohei Ohtani, the team’s general manager Billy Eppler said.
Ohtani’s decision to join the American League West division team over several bigger franchises that courted him might have surprised some, but he could become the latest piece of the puzzle needed to elevate his new employers into the playoffs.
“I think he felt that there was a family-like atmosphere with the Angels and something that he was wanting to and willing to be a part of for a lot of years to come,” Eppler told Los Angeles radio station KLAA 830 AM.