TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Los Angeles Angels have no idea if Shohei Ohtani will be with them this year, but they do know this:
He will start on Opening Day.
Shortly after Ohtani wrapped up his first spring training session with the media -- during which he mostly evaded questions about his potential free agency -- Angels manager Phil Nevin called him into his office to inform him he would be the starting pitcher for the team's first game of the season, on March 30 in Oakland.
Nevin called delivering the message "an honor," but there was also a strategic element involved.