Angels Owner Arte Moreno Was Way Off In His Valuation of Potential Shohei Ohtani Contract

Classic Arte.

The Los Angeles Angels lost their moneymaker, their best player, and one of the main things that made them relevant these past handful of losing seasons in two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani left the Halos for their freeway series rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, in the 2023-24 offseason. 

There was tons of speculation regarding how much Ohtani would garner in free agency. Some thought it would be $500 million, maybe even $600 million, but no one saw $700 million. That's exactly what the Dodgers gave him, and it took everyone by surprise, especially Angels owner Arte Moreno. 

Moreno never thought anyone would offer him that much. In fact, he never thought a team would offer him more than $500 million. In addition to that, Moreno told Ohtani's agent, Nez Balelo, that he was out on the superstar early in free agency, according to Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci. 

"Moreno figured a contract for Ohtani would “start with a 4,” according to a source familiar with the team’s planning. The Angels and Balelo agreed to play the season out and address the future then... Moreno told Balelo early in free agency he was out on Ohtani, the source said."

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Tom Verducci, via Sports Illustrated

Moreno declined to match the $700 million offer with deferrals that was on the table from the Dodgers. But it sounds like he never really considered bringing back Ohtani due to his price.

The story also said Moreno wanted to keep Ohtani past the trade deadline, even though he knew he likely wouldn't be able to re-sign him in the offseason due to a high bidding war — one he thought would "start with a 4."

So, it's clear Moreno never really had intentions of bringing Ohtani back, and yet, he didn't trade him for assets at the trade deadline to help the future of the franchise.