Shohei Ohtani had been the focus of baseball all year, thanks to his contributions as a two-way player for the Los Angeles Angels and his impending free agency, which might win him a record salary. Ohtani is now officially on the open market, fueling speculation about his upcoming decision.
Many teams have expressed interest in the 29-year-old, who is expected to receive a deal for at least $500 million this offseason. However, there is speculation that Ohtani would be willing to take a short-term contract that would allow him to re-establish his value as an elite starting pitcher, potentially smashing the annual average record.
There has also been speculation that Ohtani has already picked which team he wants to play for and that all that remains is for him to get a fair offer and iron out the contract specifics.
If that’s the case, he should sign very fast, and that’s the general consensus in baseball. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Ohtani could decide on his next team before the MLB Winter Meetings begin in early December:
According to sources, the teams involved expect Ohtani to move soon — possibly even before the December 4-7 winter meetings.
So far, the MLB offseason has been relatively quiet as teams and free agents await Ohtani’s decision. A prospective signing in the next two weeks might set off a chain reaction and result in a rush of players leaving the market.
While Ohtani hasn’t revealed his plans, the Los Angeles Dodgers are usually regarded the favorites to sign him owing to their geographic position and recent success.
According to a recent source, Ohtani holds the Dodgers in high regard for their ability to develop players and innovative teaching methods.
Ohtani had a fantastic game.This previous season (135 games), he hit 304/.412/.654 with 26 doubles, eight triples, 44 home runs, 95 RBI, and 20 stolen bases in 599 plate appearances. In 132 innings pitched (23 starts), he was 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA, 4.00 FIP, 1.06 WHIP, and 11.4 strikeouts per nine.
Shohei Ohtani becomes the second unanimous MVP Award winner in MLB history.
After garnering all 30 first-place votes, Ohtani was awarded the 2023 American League MVP. He became the first player in MLB history to win two MVP Awards unanimously.
Ohtani won his first AL MVP award in 2021 and finished second to New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge last season.