This is the largest contract a player with salary arbitration qualification has ever received in MLB history, with the previous record being that the Boston Red Sox signed Mookie Betts for $27 million.

According to MLB's salary arbitration regulations, players who have entered the league can only get a basic salary contract in the first three years of their career, and enter the salary arbitration period in the fourth year, but free agent signing is not subject to this restriction, and the salary difference is huge. Before 2016, players who are over 23 and who have played in baseball leagues other than MLB for at least 5 seasons can sign with MLB teams as free agents. After the 2016 labor-management negotiations, the restrictions were raised to 25 years old and 6 seasons.

Take Hideki Matsui and Shohei Otani as an example. In 2003, Hideki Matsui signed a three-year, $21 million contract with New York Yankees as a free agent. In 2018, Shohei Otani was also 23 years old and played for NPB for 5 seasons. However, he was unable to obtain a free agent status due to the new regulations after labor-management negotiations. However, he was eager to go to the United States and finally decided to join MLB directly. In the first three years, he could only get a basic salary of no more than one million US dollars and a signing bonus of $2.3 million. Three years later, Shohei Otani entered the salary arbitration period and signed a two-year, $8.5 million contract with the Angels. Judging from Shohei Otani's performance, this contract is worth it. For the team, being able to buy and hold at a low price during the golden period of the player's career is of course a good deal, and Shohei Otani is therefore nicknamed "child labor" by many players.

is different from the common practice of taking averages in the US arbitration system. In order to avoid skyrocketing prices or maliciously lowering prices by applicants (players) and counterparts (teams), MLB's salary arbitration adopts the method of "parties bid to choose one to decide arbitration". Which party is closer to the market value of the player, the arbitration tribunal will win.

The standards for measuring the market value of players are very diverse, and the results of the event are the most important influencing factor. This year, Shohei Otani is still in good condition. In August, Shohei Otani won the 118th career hit, surpassing Suzuki Ichiro , becoming the second Japanese player to score the second most home runs. In addition, he has become the only two player in major league history who can achieve 10 wins and 10 shots in a single season. The previous one is "God of Baseball" Babe Ruth (Babe Ruth). Shohei Otani sets new records in almost every game, and his agent and teammates say he deserves such a big contract.

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