As free agency nears, Ohtani's desire to win 'gets stronger' - ESPN

If the season ended today, the Los Angeles Angels would miss the playoffs for the ninth straight season. That includes all six seasons since signing All-Star Shohei Ohtani.

The two-way superstar will become a free agent at the end of this season, and although he shed little light on what he thought of his long-term future, Ohtani did say ahead of the All-Star Game in Seattle that his desire to play on a winning club «gets stronger» with each passing year.

Ohtani, 29, was asked Monday whether reaching the playoffs has become a higher priority as he sorts out his future.

«Those feelings get stronger year by year,» Ohtani said through his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. «It sucks to lose. He wants to win, so it gets stronger every year.»

Ohtani is expected to command a record contract if and when he hits the open market.

The Angels, who entered the All-Star break at 45-46, could also decide to trade the 2021 American League MVP before the Aug. 1 deadline to get something back in return. Ohtani is finishing the second year of a two-year, $8.5 million contract signed before the 2021 season to avoid arbitration.

«Obviously all the trade stuff, he has no control over, so he tries to not think about it, just focuses on the game that day,» Mizuhara said on Ohtani's behalf. «That's the hardest part about trying to win ballgames every day.»

Ohtani leads the majors in home runs (32), triples (six) and slugging percentage (.663) at the break and is batting a career-high .302. On the mound, he's pitching to a 3.32 ERA, a shade higher than his career 3.04 mark, but he is averaging 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings (123 strikeouts, 100⅓ innings).

Ohtani could rake in a contract of $500 million or more and have teams chase after him the way