Shohei Ohtani, Angels avoid arbitration with $30 million contract for 2023 season

The Los Angeles Angels and Shohei Ohtani were able to take care of some important business on Saturday by agreeing to a one-year contract for the 2023 season that will pay the superstar $30 million. 

It is a noteworthy deal because it is the largest contract ever signed by an arbitration eligible player in Major League Baseball history.

It is still somehow still a bargain given Ohtani's production and overall value. 

The 2023 season will be Ohtani's last season before he is eligible for free agency, where he should be able to secure a massive contract that will probably be one of the largest deals ever. Ohtani is the most unique player baseball has ever seen, as he is one of the league's best hitters and best starting pitchers.

Entering play on Saturday he has 34 home runs, 94 RBI and an .888 OPS at the plate, while owning a 2.35 ERA in 27 starts and striking out a league best 11.9 batters per nine innings. He is a top-five hitter and top-five starting pitcher at the same time. Nobody in the history of the league has ever done this, and Ohtani has done it two years in a row.

He won the American League MVP a year ago and is going to be, at worst, second in the voting this season as he competes with New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge for that honor.