Jul 8, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a three-run home run in the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: Los Angeles Angels at Los Angeles Dodgers
(Queens, NY) – With the World Series set to get underway on Friday, the end of the MLB season is officially in sight. And, five days after a champion is crowned between the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks, free agency will officially get underway.
That’s always exciting and intriguing, but especially this season – given two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani will hit the open market.
The last time Ohtani was a free agent, he ultimately chose to sign the Los Angeles Angels. Some speculated he wasn’t interested in straying from the West Coast then, and may still be opposed to leaving the region.
However, others have said such regional requirements are no longer in place – meaning teams like the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and New York Mets could be in play. At least one MLB insider speculates the Mets will be in the thick of the Ohtani pursuit.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan says: “I think the Mets are going to be right in the middle of things with him. The idea that the Mets aren’t gonna be front and center I think is silly.”
During this Mets’ era with Steve Cohen as owner, that makes sense. His free-spending ways would suggest New York’s NL squad will at least be “in the mix.”
But after selling off at last season’s trade deadline, some speculated the Mets would be quiet in free agency this year. That may or may not prove to be the case, but newly minted president of baseball operations David Stearns referred to the team’s “financial might” as an advantage.
Signing Ohtani will require whatever team secures his services to give up a draft pick to the Angels. Given owner Cohen’s preference for building through the farm system, that’s a sure downside – but this is Ohtani.
The chance to slot him in as DH, along with dreams of his pitching atop the rotation in 2025 and beyond (following recovery from Tommy John surgery) may be too much to pass up.
