Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani finally revealed his position on extending his contract with the club.
At an official press conference held on the 17th (hereinafter Korean time) at Diablo Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, USA, 메이저사이트 Ohtani focused on questions about the extension of the contract with the Angels, and emphasized that he wanted to focus on the season, but avoided specific details. .
He said, “I’m not sure what (agent) Nez Valero and the club are talking about. But to tell you my position, I haven’t heard anything about an extension contract,” he said. “I’m just focusing on the season. )I know it’s my last season. I’m an Angels player now and that’s why I want to focus. I’m not thinking too far ahead.”
But it’s widely known that Ohtani is disappointed with the Angels.
“Personally, I think it was a better season than last year, but the team performance was disappointing,” he said in an interview held at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan after finishing the season in October last year. “The races in August and September felt particularly long. “Including , we didn’t play as well as we would like. I feel very negative about the team this year.”
The Angels fought for the top spot in the division until the end of May last year, but suffered a 14-game losing streak in June and ended the season in third place in the American League West with a record of 73 wins and 89 losses. The 2014 Division Series against the Kansas City Royals is the last fall baseball game for the Angels.
It can be seen that Ohtani actually ordered reinforcements while expressing disappointment towards the team at the airport. In fact, the Angels recently made the most outstanding outside recruitment this offseason. Starter Tyler Anderson, closer Carlos Esteves, infielders Gio Urshela and Brandon Drury, and outfielders Brett Phyllis and Hunter Renfro have reinforced their power evenly throughout the pitching.
Ohtani said, “I firmly believe that the club and I have the same thoughts. The club wants to win as much as I do. I don’t dare to say what the club is actually thinking, but I want to believe it.” I think the best players have come in in recent years. I met them today and I want to get to know them more.”
Art Moreno, the owner of the Angels, also appeared at the camp. He has been negotiating the sale of the club with at least five groups since last summer, but withdrew the plan last month when he was not offered the desired terms.
Regarding this, Ohtani said, “I saw him at the playground yesterday and had a chance to say hello. We didn’t have a deep conversation. I don’t think much about his decision (withdrawal of the club sale). It’s just business. Nothing has changed. I just want to focus on this season. “he said.
On the other hand, Ohtani, who was unofficially selected as the starter for the opening match for the second year in a row, will make his first actual mound in an exhibition game against the Milwaukee Brewers on March 2 following live pitching on the 26th, and then leave the camp to join the WBC Japan team on the 4th.