The Sho’s on the Road
Another October, another year without seeing Shohei Ohtani play in the postseason. The last time we saw the Los Angeles Angels play playoff baseball was in 2014; four years before Ohtani even signed. But now that the Angels have been eliminated from contention and with Ohtani’s contract expiring, we will most likely see him playing with another team for upwards of $500 million despite an elbow injury that will not see him pitch until 2025. Let’s explore those options that Ohtani has.
Let’s start with the Los Angeles Dodgers as it’s his most likely and frankly his most boring option. He would slot right into an already stacked lineup that is likely to win another championship in the next couple of years. Ohtani has also expressed his desire to stay in Los Angeles where the weather is warm.
The other leading team in negotiations has been the New York Mets. Owner Steve Cohen is determined to bring this team a championship and it has shown in the team’s recent moves. Ohtani could be the piece to finally tip the Mets into a permanent staple in the offseason. Ohtani’s recovery may impede the team from competing now but after two years the Mets would be a scary contender.
I want to end this three-team list with our native Boston Red Sox. Last offseason saw the departure of Xander Bogaerts for absolutely nothing to the San Diego Padres. Following his departure, the Red Sox embarked on a very poor season failing to reach the playoffs. Shohei Ohtani would be the perfect addition to this squad that is not only lacking good pitching but another bat to recover from the loss of Bogaerts. With fellow Japanese teammate Masataka Yoshida joining this season the Red Sox may have a chance to get the best player in baseball.
