Shohei Ohtani is getting paid in record fashion and he still hasn’t hit free agency yet.
The Angels announced they have agreed to a one-year, $30 million contract with the reigning AL MVP to avoid arbitration. It’s the largest salary ever for an arbitration-eligible player and will be his final contract before Ohtani, 28, can become a free agent after next season.
Ohtani is making $5.5 million this season, also making it the largest arbitration salary increase in history. The previous record for total money belonged to Mookie Betts at $27 million and increase was $9.6 million for Jacob deGrom.
According to The Post’s Joel Sherman, getting Ohtani signed now removes the uncertainty of arbitration and could make him even more attractive in the trade market.
The starting pitcher and DH is having another MVP-caliber season but may lose out on the award to the Yankees’ Aaron Judge. Ohtani is 15-8 with a 2.35 ERA and 213 strikeouts and at the plate he’s hitting .276 with 34 home runs, 94 RBIs and an .888 OPS.