Major League Baseball’s biggest free agent signing has already been booked. With the price tag on free agent Shohei Ohtani (29, Los Angeles Angels) skyrocketing, teams are starting to narrow down the field.
“Officials believe the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco and the Angels are most likely to compete for the top player,” the New York Post reported at the end of the June major league schedule.
The Los Angeles Dodgers did not pursue Trey Turner last winter and continue to be the favorite to make a move for Ohtani, given their financial resources. The Dodgers’ rivals, San Francisco, are also believed to be in the running for Ohtani. According to the New York Post, “San Francisco has $360 million left over from last winter’s deals for Aaron Judge (Yankees) and Carlos Correa (Minnesota). It’s in good financial shape, and with Oakland almost certain to leave for Las Vegas, it’s going to get even better.”
The New York Post reported, “The Angels want to sign Ohtani to an extension. But the Angels will have to prove they can make the postseason,” adding that the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani’s original team, are also in the mix. If the Angels make it to the postseason, they may be able to convince Ohtani to stay.
The New York Yankees and Mets are unlikely to sign Ohtani. According to the New York Post, “The Mets are unlikely to offer Ohtani a contract of sufficient value, given owner Steve Cohen’s citation of a record payroll (about $344.15 million) and huge losses (about $200 million projected). As for the Yankees, they gave the impression that they didn’t want Ohtani to come to New York when he broke into the majors six years ago.”카지노사이트
Through June, Ohtani is batting .301 with 30 home runs, 67 RBIs, and a 1.070 OPS in 82 games as a hitter. On the mound, he has a 7-3 record with a 3.02 ERA in 16 appearances. With his league-leading performance at the plate, Ohtani is on track to become the first free agent in major league history to sign a contract worth more than $500 million.