Agent says Shohei Ohtani has right to explore free agency

TEMPE, Ariz. — Shohei Ohtani's agent, Nez Balelo, has been consistently coy about his client's contract status, but he hinted Monday at something many in the industry had long assumed — that Ohtani will probably explore free agency, even if it does ultimately result in him returning to the Los Angeles Angels.

Balelo, who works for CAA Sports, was asked Monday if he'd be open to negotiating an extension during spring training.

«I've always been open to it,» Balelo said. «But there's several layers to this one, and Shohei's earned the right to play through the year, explore free agency, and we'll see where it shakes out.»

He was later asked to clarify if that meant a spring training deal was unlikely.

«I've said it before, I'll say it again — we're taking one day at a time,» Balelo said. «I'm not putting the cart before the horse on this one.»

Ohtani, 28, has performed as both an elite hitter and an elite pitcher over these last two seasons and could fetch a free-agent contract in the neighborhood of $500 million if he does so again.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets are widely expected to be his most aggressive suitors, but several others — namely the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants and Seattle Mariners, to name a few — could have the payroll flexibility to get into the sweepstakes. And the Angels, who opted against trading him last summer and in the ensuing winter, would certainly be interested in bringing him back.

Balelo, once again, would not comment when asked about the status of negotiations with the Angels or if he has had any substantive talks with the team in recent weeks. Ohtani has sounded somewhat neutral when asked about playing for the Angels, including during his first media session last