Angels Notes: Ohtani, Rendon, Barria

Agent Nez Balelo of CAA, who represents Shohei Ohtani, informed reporters this week that whereas an extension is “all the time” one thing to which they’ve been open, Ohtani has additionally “earned the precise to play by the 12 months, discover free company” (link via ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez) As one would anticipate, Balelo spoke somewhat vaguely with regard to his star consumer’s future, stating that Ohtani is taking issues “daily” and downplaying the concept that the Angels’ lack of postseason berths throughout his time with the workforce would push the two-way sensation to a brand new workforce. “He’s so aggressive, like all nice gamers are, so after all they need to expertise postseason, after all they’d like to be within the World Collection,” mentioned Balelo. “However is that the deciding issue? I don’t know. We’ll simply have to attend and see.”

At 28 years outdated, Ohtani has turn out to be one of many recreation’s brightest stars. He secured an All-Star berth in every of the previous two seasons, successful American League MVP honors in 2021 and ending runner-up in 2022 — whereas additionally grabbing a fourth-place end in Cy Younger voting. Since Opening Day 2021, he’s batted .265/.364/.554 with 80 homers and 37 steals in 1305 plate appearances, whereas on the similar time pitching 296 1/3 innings of two.70 ERA ball with a 31.4% strikeout charge and seven.4% stroll charge. There’s been loads of discuss concerning the bidding warfare he may spark heading into his age-29 season, with hypothesis that Ohtani may signal the biggest contract ever — maybe even pushing $500MM in whole worth.

Extra on the Halos…

• Anthony Rendon is in Angels camp and feeling optimistic concerning the 2023 season regardless of requiring a second surgical procedure in as a few years final summer time, writes Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times. Rendon famous that returning even for a pair video games late within the 2022 season introduced him some peace of thoughts heading into the winter, and whereas his surgically repaired wrist wasn’t 100% all through the winter, it’s feeling stronger now. He acknowledged that the Angels will possible be cautious along with his workload and supplied excessive reward for brand new teammate Gio Urshela — the commerce acquisition who’ll play no small half in serving to to spell Rendon when wanted. Halos skipper Phil Nevin identified that Rendon already has one Comeback Participant of the 12 months Award below his belt and expressed confidence that the previous All-Star can return to kind. Rendon, who signed a seven-year, $245MM take care of Anaheim following the 2019 season, has performed in simply 157 video games since placing pen to paper. Fifty-two of these video games got here within the shortened 2020 season, when he turned in an excellent .286/.418/.497 slash with strong protection on the scorching nook. Since then, he’s performed in simply 105 of 324 potential video games.
• Proper-hander Jaime Barria is within the combine for the sixth spot within the Angels’ rotation, writes Sam Blum of The Athletic. He’ll be part of a bunch together with Griffin Canning, Chase Silseth, Tucker Davidson and Chris Rodriguez in vying for that spot. As Blum outlines, that sixth-starter function may maybe be finest occupied by somebody with Barria’s swingman expertise, on condition that off-days will necessitate the sixth spot being skipped occasionally. Barria, who’s out of minor league choices, figures to make the membership a technique or one other this 12 months, significantly given final season’s sturdy exhibiting in an extended aid function. In 79 1/3 frames, the 26-year-old posted a 2.61 ERA with a properly below-average 17.1% strikeout charge however a powerful 6% stroll charge and a 40.9% grounder charge. Barria has by no means missed many bats however has usually displayed sturdy command en path to a profession 4.09 ERA in 380 1/3 innings cut up pretty evenly as a starter (4.03 ERA, 56 appearances) and and a reliever (4.25 ERA, 44 appearances). He and the Angels averted arbitration with a one-year, $1.05MM deal earlier this winter.