Jul 11, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; American League designated hitter/pitcher Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (17) reacts during the second inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: All Star Game-National League at American League
(New York, NY) – The big mystery surrounding Shohei Ohtani and where he could end up this offseason isn’t getting any clearer.
In fact, while the longstanding assumption has been that a “big market” team will end up signing the pitcher/slugger, a new report suggests that may not be the case. According to ESPN’s Alden Rodriguez, “people familiar with Ohtani’s thinking believe he might be open to a short-term deal with an exceedingly high average annual value.”
So, if that’s the case, something like a three-year, $150 million contract may be in play. And given a report this week said Ohtani is “intrigued” by playing for the Atlanta Braves, a smaller market is seemingly a realistic possibility. To date, industry chatter predicted Ohtani would sign a deal worth closer to $500 million over 10 years.
The shorter-term deal may make sense for Ohtani, while also reducing the risk associated with a longer deal. Given he’s dealing with a second Tommy John surgery, and won’t pitch in 2024, it’s an open question as to whether or not Ohtani will once again pitch like a frontline starter. If he rebounds well from the most recent surgery and proves he’s a capable pitcher (while continuing to hit at a high level), re-entering free agency 2 to 3 years from now could set him up for the most lucrative earnings.
Scouting out the potential destinations for Ohtani, the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Dodgers, Giants, Cubs, and Rangers all stand out as “big market” destinations that have spent big on free agents in the past. Some have also mentioned the Seattle Mariners as possibilities – and maybe that’s where the “smaller market” option comes into play.
