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Shohei Ohtani is staying in Los Angeles but changing his uniform.
The baseball phenom announced his free-agency decision on Saturday, with the two-time AL MVP joining the Dodgers on a 10-year, $700 million contract, the largest in MLB history.
Anyone who’s had the pleasure of watching Ohtani play over the past six seasons knows that’s a reasonable price for a player as singularly great as he is.
He’s one of the best hitters and pitchers in the league, and although he won’t be able to pitch until 2025 due to an elbow injury, Ohtani is enough of a threat at the plate to warrant the hefty price tag.
In 2023, Ohtani had a .304 batting average and led the AL with 44 home runs despite playing in only 135 games. Per FanGraphs, he finished fifth in wins above replacement (WAR) as a batter and had the league’s third-highest walk rate (15.2 percent).
He also started 23 games as a pitcher and posted a 3.14 ERA.
Ohtani had no shortage of All-Star-level talent alongside him with the Angels, including Mike Trout, but playoff success eluded him.
By signing with the crosstown Dodgers, Ohtani joins another loaded roster, but one with a track record of success. They’ve won the NL West 10 times in the past 11 seasons.
Along with Ohtani, Los Angeles boasts a roster that includes first baseman Freddie Freeman and 2023 NL MVP runner-up Mookie Betts.
Per ESPN Bet, the Dodgers (+600) became the favorite to win the 2024 World Series with Ohtani’s addition.
Fielding a roster with the highest payroll won’t guarantee the Dodgers a championship next season. However, adding Ohtani certainly doesn’t hurt. It’s also a win for neutral observers who will likely finally get the opportunity to watch Ohtani play meaningful October baseball.
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