Arguably the biggest free agent rumor of 2023 dropped on Thursday, when it was reported that Shohei Ohtani is "more open" to signing on the east coast than he was as a rookie. With previous chatter suggesting that Ohtani would only consider west-coast teams, this update changes the free agency landscape considerably.
The expectation is that Ohtani will prioritize winning (and, of course, money) above all else. He doesn't appear particularly concerned with market size. If anything, he prefers a quiet locale. Ohtani gives off the energy of a player focused on winning baseball games, especially after six years of watching the postseason from home.
A number of teams will happily splurge on the Japanese superstar, considered by many to be the best baseball player of his generation. Even with concerns about his pitching arm following a second procedure to repair his UCL, Ohtani could command north of $500 million due to his potent blend of hitting power and international fame.
Here are the franchises to watch as the most anticipated free agency race in recent memory approaches.
5. Atlanta Braves
Let's get wild.
Regardless of the pending NLDS outcome, the 2023 Atlanta Braves will go down as one of the best teams in recent history. There hasn't been a more explosive offense... ever. Before injuries, the pitching staff ranked near the top of the MLB, too. The Braves had eight All-Stars. Signing Ohtani would be borderline gluttony.
But, imagine for a moment the possibilities. Ohtani sandwiched between Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson in the lineup. One day, once his shoulder has healed, Ohtani joins the pitching mix of Spencer Strider, Max Fried, and Kyle Wright. The upside is fathomless.
Ohtani led the American League in home runs. He would join the National League home run leader in Olson, on the team that tied the MLB all-time home run record. He would have the benefit of a small-market feel while playing in a massive population hub. He would get to compete for a championship, without a doubt. If the goal is winning, there isn't a better place to win games.
The Braves have a lot of mouths to feed financially, but Ohtani is a singularity — the GOAT of his generation (GOG?). If he comes knocking, the Braves would be foolish not to consider it. He'd surely make for a strong return on investment with the marketing opportunities that would follow him to the ATL.
4. New York Yankees
The New York Yankees' season went to absolute s*** by their usual standards. The team eked out an above-.500 finish, but it was only good enough for fourth place in the crowded AL East. Injuries plagued the roster while Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone became weekly subjects of a loud "fire them!" campaign from the fanbase.
Still, despite bad vibes, serious financial concerns, and a genuine uncertainty regarding the team's ability to compete at the highest level, we can't count the Yankees out of any bidding war. The Steinbrenners are big spenders historically and the Yankees have over a century of rich lore on their side. Players want to don the pinstripes and play in Yankee Stadium.
New York should have no trouble finding the funds to bring Ohtani to baseball's most storied franchise. The marketing upside would provide a huge return on investment, so it's hard to imagine ownership talking themselves out a deal. Plus, if the Yankees want to quickly pivot back toward contention, signing the best player in baseball is a good way to go about it.
Ohtani and Aaron Judge trading dingers would provide quite the boost in entertainment value compared to last season's Zombie Yankees. The Yankees could benefit from Ohtani's arm on the mound eventually, even if that's more of a long-term investment than a short-term guarantee.
Any Ohtani contract is going to include several years of guaranteed money, so the Yanks would be able to map their next decade around the 29-year-old superstar.
3. Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays won 99 games before getting sent home in the wild card round. Tampa has historically been hesitant to spend top dollar for elite players, but the Rays reportedly offered a massive trade package for Ohtani at the deadline. It's clear the franchise is interested in the modern-day GOAT, and if Ohtani is focused on winning, Tampa is a rock-solid choice.
There is no shortage of power wattage in the Rays' lineup. Ohtani would anchor the middle of a group that includes Wander Franco, Randy Arozarena, and Jose Siri. In the long run, he would join a pitching staff built around Cy Young candidate Shane McClanahan. The upside is immense for a Tampa team that may finally be ready to go all-in after consecutive postseason disappointments.
Ohtani appears content to embrace the charm of a small market. The Rays have a high competitive ceiling, but also face a brutal gauntlet in the AL East. There isn't a more challenging division in baseball and that bleeds into the postseason. The Rays have been determined to develop organically, but sometimes it takes a huge swing — a leap of faith — to reach the mountaintop. Ohtani would represent just that.
The Rays offered three top-10 prospects, including MLB Pipeline's No. 6 overall prospect Junior Caminero, for Ohtani at the trade deadline. Well, now Tampa has the chance to lure him away from Los Angeles with money, not players. Tampa can keep its elite farm system intact while building an immediate winner around the hungrier-than-ever Ohtani. It's a dream scenario for that front office and fanbase.
2. Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies have been aggressive free agent spenders over the last few years, from Bryce Harper to Nick Castellanos to Trea Turner. Why not add Ohtani to the mix, cementing the Phillies' place atop the AL East hierarchy in a heated years-long battle with the Braves?
Ohtani wants to win. No team in the National League has proven more capable of winning big games over the last couple years than the Phillies. Regardless of the outcome of the NLDS, Ohtani would have to feel confident about his ability to go to war with that group. Bryce Harper is the most clutch hitter in baseball and the Phillies have been smacking home runs left and right since the All-Star break.
Ohtani would slot comfortably into a balanced and prolific collection of batters. The Phillies blend contact and power better than most clubs. Kyle Schwarber is solely on dinger duty, but Harper, Turner, Castellanos, and J.T. Realmuto (among others) tend to spray the ball all around the park. The DH spot generally belongs to Schwarber, but the Phillies could find a comfortable home for Ohtani in the outfield (or simply swallow the defensive consequences of moving Schwarber back to left). Either way, the offensive (and potential pitching) benefits of Ohtani outweigh the concerns.
If Ohtani can eventually work his way back to the mound, Philadelphia would be glad to have him. Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler have developed into a potent one-two punch atop the rotation, but the Phils' pitching staff is more vulnerable than other National League contenders. Othani is potential insurance down the road if he can get back to full strength.
1. New York Mets
The New York Mets are expected to go "all-in" for Ohtani and other big-name free agents after a disastrous 2023 season. Steve Cohen entered last season with the highest payroll in baseball. He's willing to spend big on a winner. Last season was a disappointment, but the Mets have enough talent to turn things around quickly.
Where New York needs the most help is on the mound. The Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer trades were circumstantially responsible, but they left the Mets desperately short on arm talent. Ohtani's fellow countryman, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, has been floated as a likely Mets target. New York also lured Kodai Senga from the Japanese baseball ranks last winter. There's no reason why the Mets can't target both Ohtani and Yamamoto if ownership is gutsy enough.
Ohtani would add another bat to the middle of a lineup that is built around Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso. Ohtani and Alonso would be perennial threats to lead the National League in home runs. New York has a talented collection of bats, but there's ground to be made up between them and the postseason juggernauts. Ohtani helps bridge that gap.
The biggest hurdle between New York and Ohtani is the winning games component. The Mets weren't a winner last season and it's hard to say the Mets give Ohtani the best chance to win next season. There's no doubt ownership and the front office can pitch him the concept of a swift turnaround, but the Mets are favorites because of financials and market size — not necessarily baseball. Maybe those are the wrong metrics to go by with Ohtani.