Angels News: Insider Believes Halos Have Their Price Limit on Shohei Ohtani

How much will the Angels be willing to pay in order to keep Ohtani with the Halos?

The crown jewel of the MLB free agent market this offseason will be Shohei Ohtani. 

For years, teams (and eager fan bases) have been salivating over the thought of signing the modern-day Babe Ruth. Ohtani's impact on the sport has truly made him a transcendent athlete -- and one who can change the fortunes of a team in more ways than one. 

Those who support the Halos must be wondering if there's even a remote chance Ohtani could come back via a long-term deal. Respected MLB journalist Bob Nightengale may have dropped a few nuggets in his recent column pertaining specifically to this topic. 

"Ohtani, who hasn't given up on the idea of staying with the Angels, plans to hit the free-agent market in November. He still wants the largest contract in baseball history, exceeding the $430 million that teammate Mike Trout received (although it was $360 million in new money), but his torn UCL certainly has tempered expectations."

- Bob Nightengale on Shohei Ohtani

per USA TODAY

The future of the franchise really seems to be in flux right now. Mike Trout has suddenly become a bit injury-prone. Anthony Rendon's contract is arguably the worst in baseball. The farm system still seems relatively barren compared to most of the Angels' competitors, and the decision to dump a multitude of players via waivers has many scratching their collective heads. 

The Ohtani price tag is also something to watch. Having torn his UCL, it's expected that Ohtani will undergo Tommy John surgery sooner than later, thus preventing him from pitching in 2024. Reports indicate that potential offers will have incentives embedded within the contractual language for when Ohtani takes the mound again.

Nightengale speculates on what the Angels would be comfortable with from a money standpoint. He also mentions some competitors who could be lurking in the proverbial shadows:

"If the contract bids stay under $500 million, the Angels like their chances. If the bidding goes over $500 million, the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres and perhaps the Seattle Mariners are the strongest contenders to swoop in." 

- Nightengale

per USA TODAY

While the Dodgers are seen by many as the prohibitive favorites in this race, the Angels do benefit from Ohtani's obvious familiarity with the club. 

We'll see if the Halos opt to spend even more money in the offseason to change their fortunes.