Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani, who is likely to start for the opening game of the American professional baseball Major League (MLB) for two consecutive years, is expected to appear in the free agent (FA) market after this season.

According to the American media ESPN on the 21st (Korean time), Ohtani’s agent, Nez Valero, said, “Ohtani has the right to enjoy free agency status.” 스포츠토토

Valero left several possibilities open by avoiding a definite answer about the possibility of an extended contract with the Angels. “It’s always open,” he said, “but it takes a lot of steps.” He continued, “Otani gets the right to become a free agent at the end of this season.”

Valero added, “We’ll think about it one day at a time, and we won’t put the cart before the horse.” It is analyzed to mean that Ohtani will proceed sequentially without haste.

Ohtani, who entered the major leagues in 2017, will be eligible for free agency at the end of this season. Ohtani is active as a pitcher and hitter in the major leagues. In the last 2022 season, he recorded 15 wins as a pitcher, a 2.33 earned run average and 219 strikeouts. As a hitter, he had a .273 batting average, 160 hits, and 34 home runs.

Some predict that Ohtani will be able to sign a $500 million (approximately 649.5 billion won) contract for the first time in MLB history when he enters the free agent market.