MLB Rumors: Angels Haven't Started Extension Talks With Superstar

Los Angeles Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani told Sam Blum of The Athletic that he and the team have yet to begin extension talks.

Ohtani expressed during the season that he would be open to a long-term extension with the Angels, so it's certainly possible that it could happen once the lockout is over. However, if they were to lock him up to a multi-year extension, they would need to pay him far more than his $4,250,000 average salary. He is eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2024 but still has arbitration rights for next offseason. The Angels could go down that route then, but it does open the door for him to leave via free agency the following winter.

After the season Ohtani had, the Angels should be aiming to lock him up for as long as they can. In 155 games, he had 46 home runs, 100 RBIs, and a .257 batting average. With that, he also pitched very well, as he sported a 9-2 record, 3.18 ERA, and had 156 strikeouts. Thus, he was excellent in both areas of the game.

Due to his unforgettable campaign, Ohtani achieved a number of accolades and won multiple awards. They are as followed:

AL MVP

All-MLB First Team

All-MLB Second Team

Silver Slugger Award

Edgar Martinez Award

Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award

AL Triples Leader

AP Athlete of the Year

With all of this, the Angels should be working hard to sign Ohtani to an extension as soon as possible. He, along with Mike Trout, are the players they have to build around.