Now that the Texas Rangers have won the World Series, the baseball community turns their attention to MLB free agency, where Shohei Ohtani headlines the list of players available.
Prior to tearing the UCL in his right elbow, restricting him from pitching for the entire 2024 season, Ohtani was set to sign a record-shattering contract in free agency. Yet, many still expect Ohtani to top Mike Trout as the highest-paid player in MLB, no matter what.
As far as which teams can fork over that much cash?
Well, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, there’s one frontrunner, namely, the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are “believed to be the favorites” to sign Ohtani. Another report from ESPN suggests Dodgers team ownership is “highly motivated” to add Ohtani to their core.
While the Dodgers may have the reputation of spending big bucks while also having payroll flexibility, they’re certainly not the only team interested in pursuing the two-way MLB superstar.
While several teams are expected to check in on Ohtani’s market, ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez believes the former MVP’s market will come down to just ten organizations. Which ten? Here’s who Gonzalez named.
- Los Angeles Angels
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- Boston Red Sox
- Chicago Cubs
- New York Mets
- New York Yankees
- San Francisco Giants
- Seattle Mariners
- Texas Rangers
- Toronto Blue Jays
As usual, most of the teams listed belong to big markets, with owners who don’t shy away from having a large payroll. It makes sense, as any team hoping to have a chance at signing Ohtani better be prepared to offer the biggest contract in franchise history while also being prepared to put together a roster capable of competing in the World Series.