Shohei Ohtani's Injury Could Cost Angels Star 9 Figures in Free Agency, MLB Exec Says

Los Angeles Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani's UCL tear looks like it may have an effect that goes beyond just the team's playoff chances in 2023.

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com spoke to numerous MLB executives about how the injury could impact the two-way player's market as he enters free agency following the season. One executive said that the injury could bring his number down by more than $100 million.

"Obviously the significance of the tear is going to influence his market," an NL executive said, per Feinsand. "But either way -- whether it's surgery or conservative treatment -- I'd say it could cut into his overall contract by nine figures. Even if it's a conservative treatment prognosis, those often have resulted in surgeries, so there will be risk associated with him no matter what."

Another executive said that the potential of him recovering from two Tommy John surgeries is possible but it makes him less of a guarantee and would make his skills with the bat more influential when offering him a contract.

"My initial reaction was, 'Wow, this basically cuts him in half,'" another NL exec said, per Feinsand. "I have no idea how a team could pay him with the thought that he would operate as a pitcher for the long-term [potentially] having TJ twice in a five-year span. He's still a tremendous bat, and maybe he ends up being a bullpen arm too, but his value and his uniqueness take a major hit, obviously, with this news."

Ohtani is not the first pitcher to potentially need two Tommy John surgeries, with Nathan Eovaldi, Jameson Taillon and Mike Clevinger being prominent pitchers who have recovered from multiple surgeries. Ohtani also isn't guaranteed to need it as he is currently seeking a second opinion on the injury.

Still it is likely he will need the injury and the team that signs him will not have his services on the mound for a significant period.

That doesn't mean he won't be an impactful acquisition for 2024 as his production with the bat has been his best attribute this season. He is hitting .304 with 44 home runs and 91 RBIs in 126 games. He also has 17 stolen bases, an on-base percentage of .405 and an OPS of 1.069.

His performance at the plate alone may have made him a lock for AL MVP, and his 10-5 record with an ERA of 3.14 only widened the gap for the award. Pitching is a huge aspect of his value, but at the end of the day his elite production at the plate will likely still fetch him quite a salary in free agency.