Phillies Broadcaster, Ex-GM Praises Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani Contract

Shohei Ohtani has proven his worth this season.

If he can help the Dodgers to a World Series title at the end of the season, any remaining naysayers will be convinced that his massive 10-year, $700 million contract was worth every penny.

The Philadelphia Phillies are visiting the Los Angeles Dodgers for a three-game series and their former general manager-turned-broadcast Ruben Amaro Jr. has been in awe of what Ohtani can do. As a guest on Foul Territory, he said the contract, while expensive, was worth it.

“I don’t know if it’s worth it but it’s not my money,” Amaro said. “He’s the best player I’ve ever seen!”

“I think the reality of it is, it’s the market, man,” Amaro added. “This guy is an iconic player. They talk about unicorns, man. This is what he is.”

It’s tough to argue against what Amaro had to say. Ohtani is making his case to be the National League Most Valuable Player as a designated hitter, which has never been done before. Ohtani could also be considered the best player in baseball.

“At the end of the day, the L.A. Dodgers are going to be pretty damn happy that they made this deal,” Amaro said.

The Dodgers are definitely happy. The two-way star from Japan is hitting .309 with 34 home runs and 81 runs batted in, along with 32 stolen bases and a 1.028 OPS.

Ohtani entered this season still recovering from last year’s elbow surgery and incapable of pitching until 2025, which has forced him to focus more on batting and running. He has joined the 30-30 club already, becoming the third Dodger to accomplish the feat in a single season.

The 30-year-old continues surging toward the 40-40 club after stealing his 32nd bag and slugging his 34th home run on Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies.

If Ohtani manages to hit 40 home runs and swipe 40 bases, he will become just the sixth player in major league history to join the elite club.

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

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