MLB · 2 years ago

Shohei Ohtani Sweepstakes: 5 Dark Horse Teams in the Mix

Zack Cook

Host · Writer

Toronto Blue Jays
There's a lot of buzz about the Toronto Blue Jays making a run at Shohei Ohtani. The Blue Jays certainly have the funds to spend big on a player like Ohtani, but it remains to be seen if they'd ever make that type of commitment. Playing for an entire country and the potential marketing opportunities with the diversity in Toronto and Canada could certainly entice Ohtani. In saying that, we'll believe it when it happens.
New York Yankees
It's almost weird to call a team with the spending habits that the New York Yankees have as a dark horse to land the best baseball player on the planet. Still, the Yankees haven't been flexing their financial muscles of late, and if Shohei Ohtani doesn't plan on moving to the East Coast, it's hard to see that changing here. The Yankees have the finances, but will they have the mutual interest?
Boston Red Sox
Much like the Yankees, the Boston Red Sox are in a similar boat. They chose to trade away a perennial MVP candidate in Mookie Betts because they didn't want to pay him. In saying that, there's been some buzz about Ohtani being interesting in Boston. It still feels like a long shot, and you have to factor in whether or not the Red Sox ownership would even pony up the big bucks for him.
Atlanta Braves
It's hard to see the Atlanta Braves going long-term on a deal for Shohei Ohtani. There's been some buzz about whether or not Ohtani would consider a short-term, high-dollar contract with a contending team. If that's a real conversation that's going on behind closed doors, you'd have to figure that the Atlanta Braves are a big part of it.
Seattle Mariners
Wouldn't it be fun to pair up Shohei Ohtani and Julio Rodriguez for the next decade or more? The Seattle Mariners check off a lot of the boxes that Ohtani is looking for, but it's hard to suggest that they'd be willing to spend what it'll take to get him. Still, the Mariners are an attractive suitor, and it would be hard to envision Ohtani not taking a meeting with this group and seeing what they have to offer him.
Toronto Blue Jays
There's a lot of buzz about the Toronto Blue Jays making a run at Shohei Ohtani. The Blue Jays certainly have the funds to spend big on a player like Ohtani, but it remains to be seen if they'd ever make that type of commitment. Playing for an entire country and the potential marketing opportunities with the diversity in Toronto and Canada could certainly entice Ohtani. In saying that, we'll believe it when it happens.
New York Yankees
It's almost weird to call a team with the spending habits that the New York Yankees have as a dark horse to land the best baseball player on the planet. Still, the Yankees haven't been flexing their financial muscles of late, and if Shohei Ohtani doesn't plan on moving to the East Coast, it's hard to see that changing here. The Yankees have the finances, but will they have the mutual interest?

Shohei Ohtani Sweepstakes: 5 Dark Horse Teams in the Mix

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