Shohei Ohtani’s free desk causes a stir at All-Star Game

SEATTLE –

At some point, Shohei Ohtani will entertain the idea of ​​talking about his upcoming free service and what it could mean for baseball’s finances.

But that hasn’t stopped others from thinking about what might happen in the off-season, when arguably the most unique free agent in history hits the open market.

Kansas City’s Salvador Perez and Toronto’s Jordan Romano both threw out $600 million as a proposed number. Baltimore’s Austin Hays offered everything in his theoretical purse.

Dodgers star Freddie Freeman simply called him a unicorn with a price that cannot be quantified.

“He’s going to get a lot of money and he deserves it. There’s no other player like him,” Atlanta’s Sean Murphy said Monday. “I don’t know what I’d do if I had to sign him, but he’s incredible.”

The biggest attraction of Tuesday’s All-Star Game is also the biggest prize this offseason. Ohtani’s contract with the Los Angeles Angels expires after this season, making the two-way star the desire of anyone in baseball with a big enough checkbook.

But quantifying how much Ohtani earns isn’t easy or straightforward. How do you create a number that takes into account his value as a pitcher and batter?

“I think when he first came to Major League Baseball a lot of people really said, ‘Hey, this guy’s going to have to do one or the other. It’s really amazing how you can do it now, but how long can he do it?’” Philadelphia poet Craig Kimbrel said. “We’re still sitting here talking about him being the best on both sides. It’s really fun to watch.”

Ohtani’s deal in free agency is likely to surpass anything baseball has seen before in contract value, either in total over the life of the deal or on average per season.

Whichever route Ohtani and his representatives at CAA choose, the winning suitor will make a significant financial commitment. The 12-year $426.5 million deal signed by Mike Trout or the $360 million deal signed by Aaron Judge last season may seem small by comparison.

‘As much money as I have. I’ll give him everything I’ve got,” said Hays, the starting midfielder in Tuesday’s All-Star Game.

Ohtani would already get a staggering payday, but his performance in the first half of this season may have added a bit more pay. Ohtani hit the break with 32 home runs and 71 RBIs offensively, a 3.32 ERA and 132 strikeouts in 100 1/3 innings pitched, and a combined win over replacement of 6.0 per Fangraphs, the highest in baseball.

“As a baseball fan, it’s just amazing to see what he can do,” said Freeman. “I know what it takes to be a hitter and how much work and preparation and mindset you have to put in to do that every day. And this guy, every five days, is also pitching. I do not understand. I don’t even know how to put a number on there. We will all find out together.”

Awash in the media on Monday, Ohtani did not elaborate on next season’s lingering unknowns or the impending trade deadline, saying his focus is on helping the Angels win as much as possible.

Sandwiched between the Ohtani Circus and Seattle star Julio Rodriguez on the T-Mobile Park warning track was Houston’s Kyle Tucker, who had a great season in his own right.

“They pretty much get all the media and I just hang out here, so that’s kind of nice,” Tucker said.

Tucker has seen his part of Ohtani up close with the Astros and Angels, both in AL West. Tucker described playing against Ohtani as “fun, but tough at the same time”.

“Just that you’re facing Shohei, which is kind of fun,” Tucker said. “When you have a very good pitcher on the mound who is very competitive, it’s a little bit more fun.”

Fun is relative when it’s someone with Ohtani’s pitching arsenal. The same goes for all the pitchers who have tried to find the holes in Ohtani’s swing and avoid becoming part of his home run highlight roll.

“Anytime he’s out there, I try to catch a glimpse of him and look at him,” said Boston poet Kenley Jansen.

Dodgers catcher Will Smith may have summed it up best by noting that at age 29, Ohtani seems to be at his peak.

“It’s incredible what he’s doing,” said Smith. “He seems to be getting better and better, which is more incredible, honestly.”

AP Baseball writer Ronald Blum contributed.