The Los Angeles Angels and two-way player Shohei Ohtani agreed on a two-year, $8.5 million contract on Monday, a deal that provided both sides with cost certainty for two of Ohtani's three remaining arbitration years.
Ohtani and the Angels exchanged arbitration figures in the middle of January and the midway point was $2.9 million. The agreement, which avoids the need for a hearing, will pay Ohtani $3 million for his first arbitration year in 2021 and $5.5 million for his second in 2022; the Japanese pitcher and designated hitter will be arbitration-eligible again in 2023 before being scheduled for free agency.