Shohei Ohtani is expected to be the biggest name in MLB free agent history next winter, and the New York Mets reportedly could set the market with an “insane” offer for the incomparable baseball superstar.
This offseason was the most expensive in MLB history and, in a way, it is understandable. The crop of talent up for grabs in free agency was arguably the greatest assembly at once that the sport had ever seen.
Reigning American League MVP, Aaron Judge, and AL Cy Young, Justin Verlander, were both available. Four All-Star-level shortstops were on the market at once. Future Hall-of-Famer Jacob DeGrom and his legendary talents were available to the highest bidder, and even a pair of Japanese superstars brought their talents to the big leagues.
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Yet, despite the historic winter this has been in MLB, many league observers are already looking at next offseason when dual-threat beast Shohei Ohtani will hit the market and land a record-shattering contract. And it seems the biggest spender this winter, the New York Mets are expected to continue the trend again in pursuit of Ohtani.
New York Mets ‘will make Shohei Ohtani best-paid player in the history of sports’
After being the baseball little brother to the Yankees in New York for decades, the Mets have become an MLB goliath. The reason why is that owner Steve Cohen is the richest in the sport and has had no qualms about flexing his financial might. This offseason alone the team committed over $500 million to free-agent additions for a roster that was already one of the most expensive in the league.
Well, it looks like that won’t slow down any time soon with Cohen having a defined goal to get the New York Mets a world title by 2025. On Wednesday, New York Post MLB insider Jon Heyman looked ahead to the Ohtani sweepstakes and the role the Mets might play in it, despite a belief the Japanese star has no interest in playing in New York.
While Cohen claimed to the outlet he is focused on this upcoming season and not next winter, one “Mets person” told the Post “The Mets will make Ohtani the best-paid player in the history of sports — whether he plays for the Mets or not — because the offer will be insane. And if someone else wants to beat it go ahead.”
It is a bold claim, but in a sport without a salary cap or penalties that are strong enough to truly deter, Cohen — who made another $2.4 billion for his investors last year — has all the money to make even the wildest New York Mets fans’ dreams come true. Â