Stephen A. Smith produced an eyebrow-raising take on two-way star Shohei Ohtani that had MLB fans rolling their eyes Wednesday morning.
Smith said on ESPN’s First Take that he didn’t believe Ohtani was worth the potential $500 million contract some expect him to receive in free agency this winter. While part of that take was based on Ohtani’s recent elbow surgery that will prevent him from pitching until the 2025 season, Smith also said Ohtani isn’t worth such a rich contract because the Angels haven’t won with Ohtani on the roster.
“I don’t want to hear any discussions anymore about him getting a half a billion dollars,” Smith said. “There’s a bunch of empty seats that I see when Shohei Ohtani’s pitching, let alone hitting… you’re not filling anything, you’re not winning, I’m not giving up that kind of money for him.”
Stephen A. Smith says Shohei Ohtani doesn't deserve a $500 million contract because the Angels didn't win or fill seats when he was on the team pic.twitter.com/3Jbq3OmYEY
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) September 20, 2023
Naturally, that didn’t sit well with baseball fans, given Ohtani’s dominance in spite of the Angels’ organizational ineptitude over the years.
He literally has no idea what he’s talking about here. Certified Ohtani hater and has been one since Ohtani came over. I know he always talks crazy about baseball, but this is bad. https://t.co/r9jfujhEZC
— Ben Hall (@bhjournalist) September 20, 2023
Any opinion Stephen A. Smith has about baseball is irrelevant
— 𝙆𝙣𝘽 (@kazknowsball) September 20, 2023
Saying Shohei Ohtani doesn’t deserve his money because the Angels don’t win is the craziest statement I’ve heard someone tell him baseball is a team game https://t.co/Nq0IaVQj5r
I have a migraine now https://t.co/TL1sXYKokn
— Griff (@griffenm17) September 20, 2023
Stephen A., I hate to break it to you but this isn't basketball, Ohtani can't shoot all his teams shots.
— MLB Stathead (@TheMLBScientist) September 20, 2023
Ohtani can only take so many of his team's ABs/innings, so not winning games isn't his fault.
Ohtani produced 31.7 fWAR for LAA, he is not the problem, stop acting like it. https://t.co/0M98i7N3UF
It’s really apparent that SAS just knows Football and Basketball. Whenever he speaks on baseball it’s ridiculous statements like this https://t.co/3NEVvonNBu
— Soundwave (@LocalSoundwave) September 20, 2023
SAS don’t know baseball. Please stop asking him questions about baseball https://t.co/obfPMBsA4n
— Manny Rodríguez (@ERodriguezRadio) September 20, 2023
Ouch.
Even with the injury, Ohtani seems likely to sign the richest contract in MLB history this offseason… even if Smith isn’t buying that he’s worth the price.
