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When in good health, Shohei Ohtani may very well be the most dominant player to ever grace a Major League Baseball field.
Unfortunately, Ohtani recently underwent his second Tommy John surgery as he enters the open market of MLB free agency.
Nevertheless, the Japanese superstar remains one of the sport’s top players, boasting 6.6 wins above replacement as a designated hitter this season in 135 games.
This has resulted in numerous teams vying for the opportunity to sign Ohtani. And now, thanks to a report from MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, we have insight into what Ohtani is seeking.
“He (Shohei Ohtani) is likely more focused on the caliber of the team he will join rather than its geographical location.” @jonmorosi shares details about Ohtani’s approach to free agency revealed during the GM meetings. pic.twitter.com/h1xioxMPos
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 13, 2023
“After conversing with individuals within the industry and those who are well-acquainted with Shohei’s mindset, the difference between this free agency and his initial arrival in North America is that he is probably less concerned about where he plays and more concerned about the quality of the team he will be a part of,” Morosi stated on Monday.
“Yes, money will be a factor. That much is evident,” he continued. “Yes, the Dodgers are likely the frontrunners to secure his signature, and they are based on the West Coast. They also possess the financial means…
Morosi then revealed that Ohtani intends to solely focus on his hitting abilities in 2024 and aims to compete for the Triple Crown as a batter.
So there you have it.
Despite all the chatter surrounding Los Angeles and New York, it seems that Ohtani has one primary objective: winning.
Now, these two objectives are not entirely incompatible, as Morosi mentioned with regards to the Dodgers. However, it does seem to eliminate certain teams from contention (looking at you, New York Mets).
Ultimately, whichever team successfully acquires Ohtani will instantly become a formidable force. And if that team is already a contender, they may well emerge as the frontrunners for the World Series title.
According to the Source brobible.com