After weeks of speculation and false reports of reaching an agreement with the Toronto Blue Jays, Shohei Ohtani announced his decision to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo of Creative Artist Agency, announced the deal is a record-setting 10-year, $700 million contract. The Dodgers have not yet finalized the signing, which will require a corresponding move on their 40-man roster.
The landmark agreement capped off a decade of the Dodgers’ interest in Ohtani and represented a watershed moment for the current ownership group and front office. But in other cities it marked the end of potentially adding the most-coveted free agent in MLB history.
The Los Angeles Angels are now entering a new reality without the two-way superstar, and that began with taking down the Ohtani mural that hung outside the main entrance at Angel Stadium, per Sam Blum of The Athletic:
The Shohei Ohtani mural is coming down. pic.twitter.com/d2kCmVzbSj
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) December 9, 2023
The Shohei Ohtani mural is officially gone. pic.twitter.com/hOscDWSKtU
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) December 10, 2023
Will have a story later on the scene from today.
There were many Angels fans, Ohtani fans and even some Dodgers fans that came out to pay their respects. It felt like a vigil.
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) December 10, 2023
Ohtani spent six seasons with the Angels after surprisingly choosing to sign with them when he was posted in 2017. Ohtani and the Angels missed the playoffs each year, which fueled speculation he would join a new team amid an overarching desire to be part of a contender.
Although the Dodgers have fallen short in the postseason, they have 10 National League West titles in the last 11 years and are regularly among the World Series favorites.
Shohei Ohtani elbow surgery
While the Dodgers are adding a supreme talent to their already-deep lineup, Ohtani won’t pitch during the 2024 season due to recovering from right elbow surgery.
Ohtani, his agency and the Angels did not provide specifics of the operation that was completed in September, but it has been reported as a second Tommy John surgery in his career.
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