Shohei Ohtani and 3 other Angels who can earn themselves a big pay increase with a strong 2023 season
Shohei Ohtani is the guy every Los Angeles Angels fan expects to get paid handsomely this offseason (hopefully by the Angels). He's the best player in baseball and continues to add distance on the second best player after every game passes by.
Ohtani is going to get his $500+ million dollar deal in free agency, and could potentially get even more with another MVP season.
There're three different Angels players who, if they have big seasons, can see dramatic pay increases. Some more than others depending on how well they played or the status of their contracts, but these three players should see increases with good performances.
1) LA Angels pitcher Jose Suarez reaches arbitration for the first time next season
Jose Suarez is going to be a full-time starter for the first time this season and has the chance to see a big pay increase if he performs well.
If Suarez does perform well and shows he can be a part of the Halos rotation in 2024, he'll see a raise because he's entering arbitration for the first time.
Suarez won't be making the $40-50 million per season Shohei Ohtani is going to make, but he should see a big raise as he's making the league minimum this season.
Suarez is making $720,000 this season, and could double or even triple that if he pitches well this season. Most players in arbitration make over $1 million which is a pretty decent raise from where Suarez is at right now.
It's not enough for the southpaw to go around buying houses for everyone he knows, but it's certainly going to be enough for him to treat himself and a couple of other people to some nice things.
2) LA Angels outfielder Hunter Renfroe can power himself toward a bigger deal
Hunter Renfroe is making $11.9 million in his final year of team control. He will be a free agent after the season and should see a substantial pay raise considering how weak the outfield class is. Guys like Joc Pederson, Cody Bellinger, and Ian Happ headline a group of uninspiring names available for teams to sign.
Of the outfielders available, nobody is more consistent than Hunter Renfroe. The Angels outfielder has been a lock for 25+ home runs, reaching this mark in every full MLB season he's played in (excluding the shortened 2020 season).
Big power bats like that are extremely valuable and those that come with the throwing arm Renfroe has are even harder to find.
I don't expect Renfroe to get massive increases on an annual basis, but I do expect the totality of his deal to be far more than the $11.9 million he's making this season.
At 31years old, Renfroe can land a multi-year deal and double or even triple the amount he's currently set to make. This is all contingent on him producing like he always has this season, but there's no reason to expect him to fall off offensively.
I don't know if the Angels will be the team to do this with guys like Mickey Moniak and Jo Adell hopefully ready to make the jump, but it's not out of the question. If the Angels don't pay him, another team will.
3) Full-time shortstop role will help LA Angels infielder Gio Urshela see big pay increase
Gio Urshela has the everyday shortstop role as of now and with how he's looked at the position and how he's swung the bat, it's hard to see him relinquishing it this season.
Urshela is an established hitter already, but there were questions about his defense at shortstop considering he had only played 18 full games at the position headed into this season.
Assuming he continues to look adequate defensively while swinging the bat well, that versatility can only increase his value. Urshela will be a free agent after the season and can see a big increase thanks to his position change.
It's hard to find shortstops who can both hit and play the position at an adequate level. Angels fans know this better than just about anyone.
While whatever team that signs him might not want him to play shortstop every day, it should earn him more money with teams knowing he's capable of doing it when asked.
The Angels will most likely not be the team that pays Urshela considering they have Anthony Rendon at third and Zach Neto should be ready at short, but another team could use a solid player like this and will reward him if he has a good year.