17 February 2023 , 12:24
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Los Angeles Angels' superstar Shohei Ohtani has held private talks with the franchise's owner but there has been no update on his future past 2023.
Ohtan is the type of player that doesn't become available often, with the star pitcher and designated hitter being one of the greatest talents that the league has ever seen at 28.
He is set to become a free agent this November, where he will likely command the biggest contract in Major League Baseball history - that could break the $500 million mark.
But Ohtani does not want to talk about his contract, instead focusing on his upcoming sixth season in MLB, after back-to-back impressive campaigns.
Speaking in a press conference on Thursday, Ohtani said: "This is my last year, and I’m aware of that. As of now, I’m an Angel, and that’s all I want to focus on." He went on to reveal he has held initial talks with owner Arte Moreno, but there is no developments regarding a new deal.
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He added: "I’m really not thinking about free agency right now. I firmly believe that they are on the same page as me, that they want to win as much as I do. I mean, I can’t really tell you what they really are thinking, but I would like to believe that."
Ohtani will become a free agent in NovemberAfter winning the MVP in 2021, Ohtani came back in 2022 with an even greater season, only trumped by Aaron Judge's home-run record-setting campaign.
Ohtani has expected to have interest from a host of teams if he becomes a free agent, with the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners and St Louis Cardinals all tipped to be interested.