How the MLB offseason has shaped Shohei Ohtani’s racing, ranking our current favorite four to sign him in 2023 and beyond

The offseason for Major League Baseball has officially passed the halfway point. All but five of the top 50 free agents are off the board. Of course, the trade market is still open, but the biggest story this offseason has to do with who is who. not It was moved, not who has it.

Going into the offseason, there was hope that the Los Angeles Angels would at least consider trading two-way genius Shohei Ohtani. After all, Ohtani is eligible for free agency next winter. Every time the sun goes down during the season you lose trade value. So the Angels had to take two paths this winter. One is to trade him for the best price between now and next deadline, or keep him in hopes of a playoff spot in 2023.

Angels general manager Perry Minassian chose the latter route, announcing in early November that he would not trade Ohtani. It may have been inspired by retiring owner Arte Moreno, who was considered to be (Moreno plans to sell the franchise in the coming months, but it’s unclear if or how that deal will affect Ohtani’s availability. It will apply again next summer or winter.) to.

If 2023 were to be Ohtani’s year, what do you think? The arrival of the new year makes it a good time to break out some of that content, for example, in today’s article he presents the four teams that are likely to adopt Ohtani in 2024. As always, keep in mind that this exercise is far more art than science.

With the usual disclaimer out of the way, let’s get to the meat part.

Of course, right? The Dodgers are chasing Ohtani as an amateur, and their offseason seems shaped to chase him harder than any player in memory. That could mean trading Ohtani at the deadline for an extension, as was the case with Mookie Betts, or it could mean going all out when the free agency period begins. Come on, the Dodgers have the economic power to compete with any other team. They have an almost unmatched track record of winning games and developing players. And they definitely have a desire to make Ohtani the Dodgers.

The Mets are working in their favor. They have an owner named Steve Cohen who seems vaccinated against financial restraints and indifferent to financial penalties. They have a roster capable of contending for the World Series crown. And if that matters to Ohtani, they also play in major media markets. (It can’t hurt. Again, this is who raised the bid after the painting was damaged. The truth is, nothing might stop Cohen from getting what he wants.) Given that many of the current owners show more commitment to each other than to their fan base and organization, this is a welcome development.

It took several winters for the Giants to acquire elite free agency. They chased after Aaron Judge, but fell short. After that, it looked like the deal with Carlos Correa was over until it fell apart. The Giants have pledged a modest amount after next season (totaling about $30 million in 2025), so they remain well-positioned to play deep in the pool for the foreseeable future. means Acquisition of a player like Ohtani could give the franchise a new, legitimate face and greatly improve its chances of regaining relevance in the National League West. Obviously, it’s hard to imagine a team passing the Dodgers or the Mets in the Ohtani sweepstakes, but perhaps the Giants can serve as top suitors for other stars while those two are out in the open.

4. Los Angeles Angels

Inertia is a powerful force, so we feel compelled to include the Angels at number four. Let me be clear, I rate the actual chances of being able to keep Ohtani much lower. He has often expressed a desire to win the World Series, and is unlikely to stay with a franchise that hasn’t even made it to the postseason yet while hiring him. No.) You might raise the point that the Angels could offer him the highest paying deal when the new owner is trying to win over and energize his fanbase. In fairness, but remember. When Ohtani got into Major League Baseball, he didn’t cost much to get into. He’s already shown that money isn’t his main motivation. Besides, do you really think he won’t get competitive offers from better teams? Angels win World Series I’m ashamed to do so, but I don’t think there’s a compelling argument to bring the Angels onto the field.