MLB Rumors: Angels' Arte Moreno Assumed Shohei Ohtani Contract 'Would Start with a 4'

It appears the Los Angeles Angels never believed two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani would land a contract worth more than $500 million in free agency.

Angels owner Arte Moreno "figured a contract for Ohtani would 'start with a 4,'" according to Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci.

Moreno also told Ohtani's agent, Nez Balelo, that he was out on the superstar early in free agency, Verducci added.

It's hard to see how Moreno never believed Ohtani's value would reach $500 million.

The 29-year-old's value never faltered despite the fact he underwent surgery on his elbow, which will limit him to just hitting in 2024 before he makes a return to both hitting and pitching in 2025.

Initial reports had his value at $500 million, and ESPN's Jeff Passan even reported in December that his contract was expected to "surge well beyond" that mark. One source also told Passan they thought the two-time American League MVP could land a deal worth $600 million.

After weeks of rumors linking Ohtani to other teams such as the Toronto Blue Jays, the native of Japan went on to sign a record-setting $700 million contract with the Dodgers, teaming up with the likes of Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Tyler Glasnow.

What's special about Ohtani's contract is the fact he is deferring all but $2 million of his annual salary ($68 million of $70 million per year) until after the deal's conclusion in 2034, per The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya.

The Dodgers will pay out the deferred money without interest from 2034 to 2043.

Ohtani deferring the majority of his contract has allowed the Dodgers to maintain their financial flexibility for the foreseeable future.

An example of that flexibility was on full display when the franchise signed star Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a 12-year, $325 million deal after landing Ohtani.

Ohtani and Balelo circled back to the Angels before he signed with the Dodgers and brought up the idea of deferring money on a potential contract, but Moreno "still wasn't interested," according to Verducci.

"The proposal of huge deferrals changed nothing for him," Verducci added. "He remained out on Ohtani."

The Dodgers are now the most feared team in all of Major League Baseball, and they kicked off the 2024 season with a 5-2 win over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday in Seoul, South Korea.

With L.A. boasting such a stacked roster, anything but a World Series title in 2024 will be viewed as a disappointment.