Shohei Ohtani rumors: MLB insider predicts which teams could sign him

With his one-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels set to expire at the end of the 2023 season, Shohei Ohtani could become the free agent prize of the next offseason (and maybe of the decade so far). With that in mind, one MLB insider recently listed which teams could conceivably be in the running for Ohtani’s services.

MLB rumors: Could these be the teams that could land Shohei Ohtani as a free agent?

The 28-year-old Ohtani, who won the AL MVP award in 2021 and finished as the runner-up to Aaron Judge last season, could become baseball’s first $500 million player next offseason.

According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, a large number of potential suitors are located on the West Coast.

“The Dodgers certainly will be in it. They love Ohtani. They chopped 70 million off the payroll which is very convenient, and so they will be a player for Ohtani. The Padres, you have to consider them a threat with anybody at this point. Who thought they’d have five superstars on their team? That’s an incredible job by them. The Giants, obviously we know they tried for (Aaron) Judge. They tried for (Carlos) Correa. They have the money. They have had a good business sense and they have the willingness to do it. They tried last time (before Ohtani signed with the Los Angeles Angels). And the Angels, we’re not going to count them out. They’ll certainly want him back.”

While the Japanese-born superstar may have settled on the West Coast the first time he selected a team (and reportedly preferred to stay on the West Coast then), Heyman believes there are three other teams with a shot to land him that are outside the Pacific Time Zone.

“I think the biggest threats are going to be those West Coast teams, but you can see Texas going there. You can see the Cubs. Those were two of the finalists for Ohtani the last time,” Heyman said.
“So it’s going to be the West Coast teams, Texas, the Cubs, and we’ll see about the Mets. Those would be the early, and we’re talking a very early, morning line favorites.”

Even though many assume Mets owner Steve Cohen will pursue Ohtani, Heyman has the Mets potentially further down the list because of the cost of Ohtani’s contract and what is already being spent in Queens. With Ohtani expected to earn a contract that will take him well beyond the next CBA and other MLB owners potentially looking to curtail Cohen’s spending with a higher luxury tax in the future, a big contract for Ohtani could cost the Mets not only more with the tax, but potentially also keep the team from pursuing other free agents.

With Arte Moreno deciding recently to keep control of the Angels, it will be interesting to see this year if the franchise can keep Ohtani as part of their future plans … or if MLB fans will soon see a historic offseason.